At White Memorial United Methodist Church in Little Rock, ministry looks like showing up, learning names, and building trust over time.
Twice a week, on Tuesday and Friday afternoons from 3 to 5, a small but deeply committed group of volunteers gathers for a bus stop feeding and literacy ministry that has quietly become a cornerstone of the surrounding community. What began nearly ten years ago as a five-day-a-week effort has adapted over time due to funding and volunteer capacity, now meeting two days each week. Even so, the impact remains profound.
On Thursday, April 16, 2026, 250 snack bags were prepared and 247 were distributed. Those numbers tell part of the story. The fuller truth is found in the relationships that make this ministry what it is.
Children who come are known by name. Volunteers ask about school, about home life, and about the details that communicate care beyond a single afternoon. Many of the families served are part of multigenerational households, often with several children. In a community where resources can be scarce, the ministry’s literacy program has become especially meaningful.
Through partnerships with Asbury United Methodist Church, Lakewood United Methodist Church, Grand Avenue United Methodist Church, the Central District Bible Boot Camp, and Gibbs Elementary School, thousands of books have been placed into the hands of children. These are not loaned books. They are gifts. Children are encouraged to take them home and build libraries of their own. In a community where owning books is not always a given, that simple act carries lasting significance.
One of the longest-participating families helps tell the story. Sandra Norton began bringing her youngest child when they were two years old. That child is now thirteen, having grown up alongside the ministry itself.
The work extends beyond weekly gatherings. Four times a year, the ministry hosts large-scale giveaways that include clothing and furniture. At Thanksgiving and Christmas, families receive full meals, and children receive new toys. In 2025 alone, 226 children received Christmas gifts through this effort.
This is not charity at arm’s length. It is relationship-first ministry. It is presence, consistency, and genuine concern for neighbors.
That spirit is embodied in the volunteers who sustain the work. Virginia Ford and Harrietta Lindsey, twin sisters with deep roots in community and education advocacy, are central figures. During one visit, Harrietta reminded a young boy that he owed her a presentation on Harriet Tubman, a moment that captured the blend of accountability and encouragement that defines the program.
Longtime volunteers Jill Dillman and Scott Dillman also help anchor the work. Jill can often be found tending the small library, urging children to choose books to take home. Additional support comes from Sister Thea Bowman Inclusive Catholic Church, with volunteers like Judy Holler, Millie Whitney, and Russell Whitney. Within White Memorial itself, Kathleen Oates and others provide steady leadership and care.
Under the leadership of Rev. Renee Willette, the ministry continues to grow in both depth and vision. The church space itself reflects that care. Mrs. Eddie Willette helped transform the environment with paper flowers and stars where children can write their thoughts and see themselves reflected in the space. Joy is not an afterthought here. It is part of the ministry.
Financially, the work requires ongoing support. The ministry costs approximately one thousand dollars each week to sustain. It has been strengthened by grants from the Methodist Foundation for Arkansas and the 200,000 More Reasons initiative, as well as a recent twenty five-thousand dollar gift from a neighbor who grew up in the community. Additional support will come from a portion of the offering at an upcoming United Women in Faith district meeting.
These gifts matter. But what sustains the ministry most is not a single grant or donation. It is the steady commitment to being present.
At White Memorial United Methodist Church, ministry is not about handing something out and moving on. It is about being in communication, in community, and in genuine concern for the place and the people where our feet are planted.
Nearly ten years in, that commitment continues to bear fruit in the lives of children, families, and volunteers alike.