The Collage Podcast
Episode: A Year of Change: Feed My Sheep's 2025 Accomplishments
Host: Feed My Sheep (Jeff)
Guest: Nancy Glover
Date Recorded: December 6, 2025
Episode Overview
This reflective episode explores a year of transformation for Feed My Sheep, a Temple, TX-based organization serving the homeless and those in need. Jeff (the host) and Nancy Glover (key staff and advocate) recount their accomplishments in 2025, the expansion of their services, and set the stage for 2026. The conversation weaves through successes in housing, substance use recovery, community-building innovations, and the underlying philosophy: “People matter.”
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. 2025’s Most Surprising Accomplishments
Permanent Housing for the Homeless
- 33 people were moved from “the food line” (clients receiving regular meals) into permanent housing using Tenant-Based Rental Assistance (TBRA).
- 27 remain housed thanks to ongoing case management; those who left did so for various reasons, including passing away with dignity and care (06:15).
"We took 33 people out of the line and put them into housing."
— Nancy (04:31)
- Notable Example: “S.S.,” a terminally ill client, passed away in care rather than on the streets. Her pet, Jeff, is also being looked after by the team, highlighting compassion beyond direct client services (06:34).
Collaborative Model
- Feed My Sheep acts as the point of contact and relationship-builder while collaborating with city programs and other agencies to achieve permanent supportive housing (09:01).
2. Beyond Meals: Evolving Mission
- While they still serve 175-200 meals daily, their definition now encompasses pathways towards self-sustainability and dignity (10:48).
- Substance Use Disorder Treatment:
- 28 people in 2025 enrolled in substance use rehab, with many going directly to housing or family support after recovery.
- Programs include long-term, residential treatments at no cost to qualifying, local homeless individuals (12:13, 14:19).
"We offer substance use disorder treatment assistance... somewhere in the neighborhood of 28 people... exited into housing."
— Nancy (11:04)
- The organization covers treatment costs, transports clients to visit facilities, and supports their choices—not a “bait and switch” but relationship-driven opportunities (14:19).
3. Holistic, Dignity-First Services
The Sunrise Center
- Opened in 2025; provides free mental health counseling, life skills classes, occupational therapy, AA/NA meetings, and 3D printing workshops (18:29, 19:34).
- Locally noted for its high-quality, welcoming facility—intentionally built to standards that dignify all visitors, regardless of housing status (20:42).
"I want it to be where the most affluent person would want to come... it is so nice. We just happen to serve people who don’t have a house."
— Jeff (20:44)
Employment & Skill-Building
- Clients are paid dignified wages for contributing to renovations and maintenance—never expected to provide labor simply for services (21:54, 22:19).
- The organization prepares individuals for employment, furthering long-term stability (33:08).
4. Community Integration: Cafe Soleil
- Opened in 2025, Cafe Soleil offers pay-what-you-can, high-quality meals made from scratch (26:42).
- Inclusive environment: homeless and affluent diners share food and conversation, fostering community and challenging stereotypes (27:23, 30:18).
- Meals are served on fine china, emphasizing dignity and respect for all patrons (28:05, 29:14).
"If you invite somebody to come to your house for a meal, you serve the very best. And it is served on the very best."
— Katie (Jeff recounting, 29:03)
- Collaboration with Temple High School culinary students for weekly soups (30:03).
Workforce Training
- Cafe Soleil doubles as a job-skills and hospitality training site (33:08).
- Prepares clients for employment and re-entry into the workforce.
5. Elizabeth Farm: Expanding Safe Housing for Women
- Permanent purchase and expansion in 2025 to provide housing for women escaping domestic violence and trauma.
- Additional tiny homes (some built by local students) are being added, with plans to expand further by March 2026 (34:11).
6. 2026 and Beyond: New Horizons
Transformational Homeless Campus
- Pending city approval to convert the Little Flock property into a campus for transitional and permanent supportive housing (38:08).
- Ongoing plans to diversify housing options, including properties closer to the city for those uncomfortable with rural settings (40:11).
- Focus on variety and choice: “one-size-fits-all” solutions don’t work for the diverse needs of their clients (41:04).
New Restaurant & Zero Waste Initiatives
- Plans to open a second location for Cafe Soleil in a formerly problematic building (a reclaimed drug house), turning spaces of trauma into spaces of community (23:01, 25:24).
- Meal delivery and zero-waste programs to launch in 2026, “making something amazing out of something not so amazing” (53:03).
7. Driving Philosophy: People Matter
- The heart of every initiative is the belief in human dignity and the inherent worth of every individual, regardless of circumstance (42:17, 43:39).
- True care, as opposed to simple “niceness,” means facilitating real, systemic change—not just short-term charity (36:49).
- Community support—prayers, donations, volunteerism—make every accomplishment possible (46:21).
"Our definition is we treat people with dignity and respect because they matter. That’s our why. That will never change."
— Jeff (43:39)
"Every donor matters, every single dollar, every prayer that we get... Even if you can’t give, pray for us." — Nancy (46:21)
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- On serving every day, not just Giving Tuesday: (02:44)
"It's not a one and done activity that we're trying to get across." — Jeff - On supporting long-term recovery: (15:54)
"You have mental clarity. You have help with the right kind of medicine. And guess what? You have gotten housing provided for you, and a job, and one of them, you would leave all of those things, a job, a vehicle, a place and sobriety." — Jeff - Nancy on vision: (24:00)
"The thing that I admire most about your leadership and your vision is that you can see things that other people have discarded or overlooked and see their beauty and their potential." - On community at Cafe Soleil: (27:55)
"To be able to sit there with people from all walks of life either experiencing homelessness or very affluent. And everybody is sitting together eating food in the same space." — Nancy - On transformative impact: (47:06)
"God has heard the cry of his people and I feel like we can look back at 2025 and definitively see what His answer is and how He’s moving in this organization." — Nancy
Important Timestamps
- 04:31: Housing 33 people through TBRA
- 11:04: 28 helped through substance use disorder programs
- 18:29: Launch and impact of Sunrise Center
- 26:42: Description and role of Cafe Soleil
- 34:00: Elizabeth Farm’s shift to transitional housing
- 38:08: The upcoming public hearing for a transformational campus
- 43:39: The organization’s defining philosophy: “People matter.”
- 46:21: Call to community support and reminders of collective impact
Episode Tone and Style
Conversational, candid, and compassionate. The speakers frequently blend humor and honesty, using personal anecdotes and community stories. The dialogue is rich in both practical detail and philosophical depth, always coming back to their unchanging belief in human dignity.
Final Thoughts
The 2025 journey for Feed My Sheep demonstrates how a holistic, dignity-centered approach to homelessness can catalyze powerful, lasting change. From housing and recovery to beautiful, inclusive eateries and plans for ambitious new projects, the organization is reshaping what “caring” looks like in Temple, TX. At every step, they underscore: “People matter.” And as they look to the future, they invite listeners and the community to join, support, learn, and believe in what’s possible.
"Can you imagine if even more care about what’s going on? Unbelievable. And it’s going to happen."
— Jeff (54:18)