West Avenue Compassion

Who Can Visit?

West Avenue Compassion's food distribution is open to everyone in the community. No income requirements or documentation are mentioned for the regular Tuesday distribution. The Choice Pantry, where you can pick your own grocery items, requires a monthly sign-up.

How to Sign Up for the Choice Pantry?

Come to the pantry on the last Tuesday of each month between 8:00 AM and 9:30 AM to register for the Choice Pantry.

Good to Know

The parking lot opens at 8:00 AM, though food distribution doesn't start until 11:00 AM. You can arrive by car or on foot. If you can't cook, let a volunteer know and they'll set you up with ready-to-go meals. The pantry serves over 300 households every week.

Food & Essentials

Food is distributed through a partnership with the San Antonio Food Bank. Visitors can expect fresh produce (reviewers mention impressively large carrots), bread, turkey, and a range of other grocery items.

How to Pick Up

Both walk-up and drive-up options are available. There's a car lineup at Tuesday distributions so you don't have to leave your vehicle. Regular food distribution runs every Tuesday from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM. Choice Pantry participants can select their own grocery items on the Mondays listed on the calendar.

Additional Support

Through a partnership with the Texas Diaper Bank, diapers, wipes, and feminine hygiene products are available in the Community Resource Center every Tuesday from 9:30 AM to Noon.

There's also a Senior Pantry (Project Hope) on the first Thursday of each month from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM.

WAC connects neighbors to many other services, including:

• Benefits enrollment for SNAP, WIC, CHIP, Medicaid, Medicare, TANF, TEFAP, and TSAP
• ESL and GED classes and learning resources
• Job readiness workshops and employment connections
• Community health services and a telemedicine clinic
• Housing, utility, and emergency shelter referrals
• Legal aid connections

Facilities

The Community Clothing Pantry is open every Tuesday from 11:00 AM to 12:45 PM. Depending on availability, families can choose 5 to 10 articles of clothing, including pants, shirts, sweaters, coats, dresses, socks, and shoes for men, women, and children. If you have gently used clothing in good condition, you're welcome to drop it off during hours of operation.

There's also a Community Garden where neighbors can tend their own 4x8 plot.

Ways to Give

You can donate at westavenuecompassion.org/donate, contribute to the Food Drive or Diaper Drive on GoFundMe, or send needed items from the Amazon Wishlist. The organization says every $1 donated creates around $13 in community value.

How to Join the Team?

WAC relies on about 150 volunteer roles each week. Download the volunteer application from the volunteer page or call or text (210) 573-2847. Volunteers help sort food, tend the community garden, welcome neighbors, and coordinate programs. There are roles for all ages and energy levels.