Faith, Hope & Love Church on Berry Street isn’t just a family legacy, it’s also a hub for serving the Fort Worth community. It’s where numerous TCU students have learned firsthand what service can teach beyond the classroom.
“Volunteering has taught me empathy, gratitude and the value of service —lessons that go beyond the classroom and prepare me to be a more compassionate and responsible person in the world,” Yana Laredo said.
Laredo, a senior biology major, has been a regular volunteer at the church’s food pantry for the past year. She connected with the opportunity through TCU’s Leadership & Experiential Learning program.
“We are constantly looking for volunteer opportunities for students to take part in,” said Bryan Partika, program coordinator for the initiative. “Faith, Hope & Love’s proximity to campus and service oriented mission – together with how organized Ronnie is – makes this a great partner fit for our office.”
Pastor Ronnie Gonzalez and his wife, Sef, revived the church after its doors closed during the pandemic. Gonzalez’s grandfather had run it from 1976 until closure. The couple decided to reopen the space, centering its mission on community support through a food pantry.
“We both grew up in that church,” Gonzalez said. “Seeing it vacant, I thought it could be a place where we could go in and bring new life to it.” The project began as a mobile pantry in June 2023. It quickly expanded to a permanent setup after receiving a grant from a local ministry.
As more people came for help, the need for volunteers increased. Since the church didn’t yet have an established congregation at reopening, Gonzalez reached out to Partika, leading to the involvement of students like Brooke Preston ’22. Preston, now a doctoral candidate in experimental psychology and a former John V. Roach Honors student, was drawn to the pantry’s “no questions asked” policy.
“One weekend when we were passing out food, a relative of mine came through the line,” she said. “People don’t have to worry about feeling judged or pitied when they come to pick up food, like they might feel in other situations. They just get what they need and are always treated with respect.”
Gonzalez praised both Laredo and Preston for their dedication, noting their willingness to serve even outside of academic credit or summer months.
“The highest form of service is when you’re not getting seen or getting recognition, and yet you do it anyway,” Gonzalez said. “We couldn’t serve the 75 to 100 families per month without them.”
For Laredo, one of the most rewarding aspects is the connection she’s built with the Gonzalez family and the community.
“Being able to see the gratitude on people’s faces and knowing I’m making a positive impact in their lives is truly a highlight of my experience,” she said.
She and Preston both agree that volunteering extends beyond giving time—it’s about building empathy and meaningful connections.
“It’s more than just giving time,” Laredo said. “It’s about understanding the challenges others face and offering support in a way that creates hope and builds relationships.”
