Big Success of Glen Rose’s donations leads to Second Annual “Share the Love” event in Texas

The Glen Rose Brickyard, led by Brickyard Leader Katarina Young, showed “love at work” for the second rendition of its annual “Share the Love: Donation Event.” They had people coming in from Oklahoma, California, and southern Texas!

Read about the first year’s event here.

Since 7 a.m., the Brickyard team had been unloading trailers until the Pavilion at Heritage Park in Glen Rose, TX, was stacked high with TWICE the amount of donations as last year’s.

Guided by the smell of freshly smoked pork, attendees could receive anything from clothing, furniture, children’s toys, household supplies, and glassware all for free!

Everything moved like a well-oiled machine: Katarina’s dad, Mickey Vargas, greeted attendees and translated for their Spanish-speaking neighbors, Pitmaster David Morris smoked plates of pork (also donated from Katarina’s farm), her husband Jason drew in passersby with signs, a couple of kids made free bracelets, and volunteer team members helped people find what they needed.

A few of her favorite stories included her team sending off:

• A local teacher with a bag of classroom decor, posters, and folders.
• An elderly couple shopping for their grand-niece (a single mother who just moved to TX from CA with very little) with a nice wooden baby bed and mattress, a lovely bassinet, baby clothes, and some diapers and toys.
• A group from Community Living Concepts (a special needs home based in Grandview, TX) with a van full of goods.

Then, there were people who went above and beyond:

A couple from New Braunfels, TX (the husband was a Navy Veteran, and the wife was a former social studies teacher from NY) were drawn in by Jason. The man started off by saying, “So the Big Marine, with the sign, told me that I should come talk to his wife about what is going on here,” which gave Katarina a big laugh.

They talked about +MPU and what we’re about, Glen Rose’s coffee clubs, and the events they do with and for the community, and the couple was all about it. The couple were highly considering starting a new coffee club in New Braunfels. The wife, Sheena, later even reached out to Katarina on Facebook, saying, “My husband and I were so amazed by what you made happen in Glen Rose. It was a beautiful event and gave us so much to think about and talk about yesterday. I woke up thinking about how the world needs more people like you guys. Thank you for putting so much love out into the community. Have a blessed Sunday.”

Later, another couple, Pam and William Campbell, and their daughter showed up. They were from Joshua Crossroads Fellowship SDA Church in Joshua, TX. They patiently waited the entire day after the event, and once everyone had received what they needed, they loaded up the remainder of the leftover clothes, bedding, towels, and linens into their trailer to be hauled up to NC to help victims of Hurricane Helene!

It was a united front with their Pastor, Jace Addison, who called back and forth to guide the efforts. He was grateful for their work and how our groups were able to help those in need. He said they were very well received, and all went to those in need. Pastor Jace even offered their Churches’ help if it was ever needed in the future.

Of what little donations were left, the remaining furniture and some other items went to the Goodwill in Granbury, TX, and a few boxes of glassware and other items went to the local First Methodist Thrift Store just off the town square.

“It was a long, tiring but fulfilling day of neighbors near and far coming together, helping each other, and breaking bread in little ole Glen Rose, TX,” Katarina said. “[People] sat and enjoyed the delicious pulled pork sandwiches and left with bags of items, full bellies and smiles on their faces.”

Well done, Glen Rose Brickyard! Y’all put the gold star on what it means to drive and lead grassroots community building and organizing!

Video coming soon!