ICAR-USA Templo Bethel pantry serves neighbors food, compassion

July 25, 2025

In a quiet corner of north Laurel, something powerful is happening every other Thursday: neighbors are feeding neighbors—and building something bigger than just full stomachs.

Kudos to ICIAR-USA Templo Bethel, one of our newer pantry partners, for making such a meaningful impact so quickly.

This pantry opened just about two years ago as one of the Food Bank’s 200 or so pantry partners.

Located in a largely Hispanic neighborhood, the pantry is part of the church by the same name. It’s a welcoming space where compassion meets need, and where Jessica Gomez, the pantry manager, leads with dedication, warmth, and deep community roots. She’s also the daughter of Pastor Manuel Gomez, and together with a small but committed team of volunteers, they serve about 80 families a month—many of whom arrive on foot due to a lack of transportation.

Laurel, nestled in western Sussex County, is a small town of about 4,275 residents and faces one of the highest poverty rates in Delaware. Over 21 percent of the population lives below the federal poverty line, nearly double the statewide average. It’s also a young community, with a median age of just 30, and it’s clear that support services like this pantry are essential.

Jessica wears many hats—coordinating volunteers, ordering food from the Food Bank of Delaware, and offering a listening ear to every neighbor who walks through the door. The pantry came to life after her aunt noticed a gap in resources in the area. What started with church members bringing in food donations has grown into a trusted source of support, open every other Thursday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Word has spread. Families now come from as far away as Millsboro and Selbyville, as well as the surrounding Laurel area. Most live within walking distance, often pushing strollers or carrying groceries in creative ways. “Some people even put a box on top of their head to carry it,” Jessica says with a smile, demonstrating how.

The community is beautifully diverse. Jessica shares that about half of the neighbors speak Spanish, and another large portion speaks Haitian-Creole. “There are not many English-speaking only,” she explains, highlighting how important it is to meet people where they are—linguistically and emotionally.

Many visitors open up about their situations. “Some are working, but everything is now more expensive,” Jessica says. “Others say, ‘My husband got deported.’ It’s hard. That happens often.”
The pantry follows a shopper’s choice model, allowing families to select what they’ll actually use from well-organized metal shelves. “It gets crowded in here,” Jessica adds. “Especially in the heat—we don’t want them waiting outside.”

Among the most requested items? Meat—especially chicken. “We let them choose what they need. It’s better for them,” Jessica explains. “If they won’t eat it, they don’t take it.”

With around 40 families served each pantry day, the team is already thinking about how to expand—but they’re still figuring out the where and how.

“We’re trying,” Jessica says simply—but powerfully.

And that’s the spirit that defines ICIAR-USA Templo Bethel: a humble but determined effort, built on love, faith, and community. As this pantry continues to grow, so does the hope it brings.