A Growing Ministry with Sustainability in Action

Sister Elizabeth Smith, a retired chaplain from CHRISTUS Spohn from years ago, founded the Weavers of Love in 2013.  It is a non-profit 501c3 organization that provides meals and sandwiches to the elders, the disabled, and people who need extra help from the soup kitchen starting in 2015, and medical services offered by the clinic since 2022.  Among her supporters are her previous co-workers from CHRISTUS Spohn, friends, community leaders, and public officials.  Weaver of Love's soup kitchen is open every Tuesday from 11am to 1pm.  The soup kitchen's salad is supplied by their community garden and greenhouse, which the associates maintain. They have nutrition counseling every Wednesday. The center provides nutritious food served by volunteers.  Occasionally the board would come to serve as well. The Weavers of Love extends its services to grief counseling, free clothing for adults and children, and diabetic shoes in another closet room. The food pantry is coming up soon.  

The Sister's Closet has a variety of collections of dresses, blouses, shirts, pants, and shoes.  All of these have been set up in a store-like setting so that their patrons could walk into the room to pick their choice of clothing to upgrade their wardrobe, better clothes for an interview, or simply for daily use.  The store has occasional promotions or deals where people can get more than one piece of clothing.  The store also has volunteer students from Texas A&M.  The service hours to this non-profit make a good collaboration for community experience. 

On March 16, 2024, Sister Elizabeth was honored during the gala for her work with the underprivileged people of Kingsville, building community towards a common good.  Sisters Carmen, Christi, and Marylou represented the Incarnate Word Sisters, San Antonio to rejoice with her on that momentous day.   The people enjoyed the food, silent auction, dancing, conversations, and beautiful messages from supporters of Sister Elizabeth.  It was certainly an evening to be grateful for the many benefactors who have supported the mission of the Weavers of Love.

The facility was closed in September and October for renovations.  The soup kitchen has updated its structures and some remodeling done for a better experience for its patrons.  Since November 12, the soup kitchen has been back to serve nutritious meals.  The patrons have been welcomed by its new Executive Director Andy Patrick, replacing the retired CEO of the Weavers of Love Jose Johnson.  We are very grateful to the previous leadership of Mr. Johnson for his years of dedication to the Weavers of Love.   

The Weavers of Love also received a grant from the Incarnate Word Sisters Justice, Peace, and Integrity of Creation (JPIC) to support the center's sustainability effort to grow fresh fruits from its garden to its soup kitchen for its patrons.  It is the fall season and a perfect time to plant trees and have their roots well established.  Belinda, an associate of the Weavers, drove to Rio Grande Valley to buy trees from Texas A&M Citrus Center.  She found out about the trees raised by the center under the leadership of research scientist Dr. Skaria.  The center aims to have high-quality citrus with less space or land per fruit yield.  Belinda and the other associates planted lemon, lime, navel oranges, mandarins, and grapefruit trees.  All of these citrus trees from the center have been micro-grafted to adapt to the climate of Texas, with minimum watering.   The associates plan to buy two more trees, one of which would be avocado trees.  She will get an organic fertilizer later to keep the trees healthy and growing.  

We hope that the Weavers of Love continues to thrive and influence its community on the value of growing local, supporting local, and serving each other for a more sustainable and resilient society.

More here:

Weavers of Love back open in Kingsville
'Weavers of Love' opens up to community following renovations
Why it is great to plant trees in the fall?  

Weavers of Love