Help for needy — support the St. Nicholas Ministry

The St. Nicholas Ministry is now in its 38th year, serving needy children, their families, and elderly persons in Lavaca, Colorado and Fayette Counties. This ecumenical ministry involving area churches, parochial and public schools, service organizations, KJZT, Catholic Daughters, Knights of Columbus, Lutheran Men and Women of the ELCA, helping agencies, businesses and individuals was begun by Pastor Herb Beyer who has served the tri-county area for the last 40 years. It started by helping a handful of families in Hallettsville, but expanded to include the tri-county area and has served thousands over the course of 38 years, providing boxes of food, new toys for the children, blankets or quilts and other needed items. Decorated St. Nicholas Ministry boxes can be found in churches, businesses and schools to receive food and toys. Referrals for persons truly in need can be made by churches, schools, and helping agencies. Distribution of gifts will take place in December.

Yes, families in our nation find themselves in crisis, trying to put food on the table. The St. Nicholas Ministry has begun its efforts to receive gifts to help families in the tri-county area. Persons and organizations can contribute monetary gifts by sending checks to Faith--St. Nicholas Ministry, P.O. Box 216, Weimar, Texas 78962 (for Colorado and Fayette Counties) and TCCM—St. Nicholas Ministry, P.O. Box 913, Hallettsville, Texas 77964 (for Lavaca County). Gifts are tax-deductible. Those gifts will be used to purchase additional food, toys and other needed items.

Concerns over food security have risen sharply because the U.S. federal government is currently in a shutdown that began on Oct. 1, 2025, which is impacting critical nutrition assistance programs like SNAP (formerly food stamps) and Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), disruptions of the Emergency Food Assistance Program, and a drain on local food pantry programs. Some states have used emergency funds to keep the program going temporarily, but these funds are running out, threatening food and formula benefits for millions of women and young children. A primary concern is that millions of Americans face delayed, reduced, or zero benefits as the shutdown continues into November. But you can help needy families in the tri-county area by supporting this year’s work of the St. Nicholas Ministry.

For information about how you can help and for organizations desiring to join in this year’s efforts, contact Pastor Herb Beyer (361-798-0155 or beyerfam55@ gmai l.com) for the tri-county area; Mimi Richter (979-877-4544 or [email protected]) for Lavaca County; and Sandy Pesak (979-249-7121 or [email protected]) for Colorado and Fayette Counties. For information concerning referrals, contact Pastor Beyer.