Programs from Agape Ministry that help struggling people in northeast San Antonio
The Agape Ministry, Inc. is a small, volunteer-driven Christian nonprofit that has been serving the northeast side of San Antonio since 1998. It was started by a woman named Earline Phillips, who recognized that families in the northeast part of the city lacked a nearby food pantry and clothing closet. What began as a response to a neighborhood gap has remained true to that original purpose: food and clothing for families in crisis, offered with no strings attached regardless of faith background.
The ministry is located at 127 Lanark Drive, San Antonio, TX 78218. The phone is 210-590-6655, and the email is [email protected]. More information is at https://theagapeministryinc.org/,
Agape Ministry is a neighborhood-scale operation supported by local churches and a small number of businesses. It does not have the budget of a large social services agency, and it does not provide direct financial payments for rent or utility bills. What it does offer — free food and free clothing for families who need them — it delivers with consistency, dignity, and the stated commitment that no one is turned away when they come for help.
Food pantry: who can come and what to bring
The food pantry at 127 Lanark Drive distributes groceries to income-eligible families in specific northeast San Antonio zip codes. The zip codes served are generally 78154, 78209, 78217, 78218, 78219, 78233, 78239, 78244, and 78247. If you live outside these areas, call 210-590-6655 to ask whether your zip code is currently served or whether a referral to another pantry is available.
To receive food, bring a photo ID and proof of your address — a lease, utility bill, or similar document showing your name and address within a qualifying zip code. Distribution takes place on weekdays; call ahead or visit theagapeministryinc.org to confirm current hours before making the trip.
The food distributed comes from donations made by local churches, businesses, and community members. It is typically nonperishable groceries, with occasional produce or protein items depending on donations available that week.
Clothing assistance
Clothing is available to residents of the same zip codes served by the food pantry, generally distributed on a periodic basis alongside pantry services. As with food, bring photo ID and proof of address. Availability depends on current donations, so it is worth calling ahead. For people that need other options, see our Bexar County clothing closet page.
The Fig Leaf Thrift Store: open to everyone
The Fig Leaf is Agape Ministry's thrift store, located at 2142 Austin Hwy, San Antonio, TX. Unlike the food and clothing programs — which require residency in a specific zip code — the Fig Leaf is open to anyone in Bexar County regardless of where they live or their income level. It carries used clothing, household items, furniture, and jewelry at low prices. Proceeds support the ministry's programs. Read our general thrift store guide.
If you live outside the zip codes served by the pantry and need affordable clothing or household goods, the Fig Leaf is worth knowing about. Call 210-590-6655 for current hours.
Who Agape Ministry serves and why it matters
The zip codes Agape Ministry serves sit in the northeast quadrant of San Antonio — neighborhoods that are working-class, majority-Hispanic, and home to significantly higher poverty rates than the city's wealthier north side. Zip codes like 78218 and 78219 have poverty rates well above the national average, along with one of the highest uninsured rates in the metro area. These are communities where a single unexpected expense — a medical bill, a car repair, a job interruption — can push a family into food insecurity.
When Earline Phillips founded Agape Ministry in 1998, northeast San Antonio had few local food resources. The ministry has remained in the same location for more than 25 years, serving the same neighborhoods, sustained largely by the faithfulness of local congregations and volunteers. For families in that corner of the city, it represents a reliable, walkable resource that larger agencies further downtown cannot replicate.
How to get started
Visit Agape Ministry at 127 Lanark Drive, San Antonio, TX 78218 on a weekday during posted hours, or call 210-590-6655 before coming to confirm hours and availability. Bring a photo ID and proof of your address. For the Fig Leaf Thrift Store, head to 2142 Austin Hwy — no eligibility requirements apply there.
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