From a Food Box to the Director’s Chair: Linda Smith’s 37-Year Mission at Bethel Storehouse

By Russell Huffman

Linda Smith remembers the exact moment her life changed, not as the Executive Director of Bethel Storehouse, but as a young mother standing on the other side of the counter.

Years ago, Smith’s husband was in a catastrophic car accident that broke his neck. With two small children at home and their income suddenly vanished, Smith found herself in a position she never expected: walking into a food pantry to ask for help.

“I just thought it was going to kill me doing that,” Smith recalls of the moment she had to register for a food box. “I prayed and I promised the Lord that if He would help us get through this mess… that I would serve Him all the days of my life.”

Thirty-seven years later, Smith is still keeping that promise.

As the Executive Director of Bethel Storehouse, an interfaith community mission supported by 15 churches, Smith now oversees the very lifeline that once saved her family. Her tenure includes 31 years at the helm, guiding an organization that has become a “mission field” for the entire community.

What makes Bethel Storehouse unique isn’t just the volume of people it serves—over 2,100 individuals last month alone—but the empathy ingrained in its leadership. Smith notes that almost every member of the paid staff has, at one point, been a client.

“We’ve been in your chair. We know how it feels,” Smith says. “It is a very difficult thing asking for help, especially the first time. Our people… are very mindful of that.”

The View from the Chair

This shared experience drives the organization’s philosophy: “Neighbors helping neighbors.” It is not about handouts; it is about community support during life’s curveballs, whether that be an illness, an accident, or a job loss.

“Please don’t go without,” Smith urges those hesitant to ask for assistance. “Your family needs it. Your children need it.”

Serving Up Hope

The need is currently surging. Smith notes that the loss of SNAP benefits and government shifts caused an “overnight” increase in demand. However, Bethel was prepared.

The facility operates on a two-pronged approach. First, there is the client services side, where neighbors can self-declare their need for food without jumping through bureaucratic hoops. For those needing clothing or furniture vouchers, proof of income and residency is required to ensure resources go where they are most needed.

Second, there is the thrift store, which is open to the general public. Supported entirely by donations, the store keeps prices “lower than low”—a pair of shoes for a dollar, a jacket for four dollars.

“We like anybody off the street to be able to come in here,” Smith explains. While many clients receive these items for free through vouchers, the low prices allow others in the community to shop with dignity without “paying an arm and a leg.”

A Call for Community

With the holiday season arriving, the Storehouse is bustling. “We’re just serving up hope,” Smith says, but they can’t do it alone.

The organization relies heavily on a rotating corps of 45 volunteers to keep the shelves stocked, the clothes hung, and the food boxes filled. While volunteer orientation is typically held on Thursdays at 10:00 a.m., the current demand is so high that Smith is welcoming drop-in help.

“We just need help hanging [clothes],” she laughs, pointing out racks of empty hangers waiting for merchandise. “Every member of my family I have dragged down here and made them help me.”

For Linda Smith, Bethel Storehouse is more than a job; it is a calling born from personal crisis and sustained by gratitude. It is a place where a woman who once feared asking for a meal now ensures thousands of her neighbors never have to go hungry.

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How to Help or Get Help

Bethel Storehouse

• Phone: 505-832-6642
• Website: www.bethelstorehouse.org
• Location: 1719 4th St SW, Moriarty, NM, United States, New Mexico
• Volunteer: Orientation Thursdays at 10:00 a.m., or contact the store for immediate opportunities during holiday season.

1. Emergency Food Security (The “Pantry”)

The most critical role Bethel plays is combating food insecurity. It operates one of the few consistent brick-and-mortar food pantries in the region.

• Emergency Food Boxes: Qualified low-income clients and families can receive emergency food boxes up to 12 times a year.
• Specialized Support: They provide specific assistance for seniors, the disabled, and the homeless (who may need “backpack-friendly” food that requires no cooking).
• Volume: They serve a massive portion of the local population, averaging around 1,800 to 2,100 people per month.

2. Economic Relief (The “Store”)

Bethel operates a large thrift store open to the general public. This serves a dual economic role:

• Affordable Goods: It provides a place for the community to buy clothing, furniture, and housewares at extremely low prices (e.g., a jacket for $4).
• Crisis Aid: For clients with a demonstrated need (proof of income/residency), Bethel provides vouchers so they can “shop” for clothes, furniture, and household items for free.
• Funding Engine: The revenue generated from the thrift store acts as the primary funding source for the food pantry and other outreach programs, keeping the organization largely self-sustaining alongside donations.

3. Crisis Intervention & Referral

Bethel often acts as the first point of contact for people in crisis. Because they interact directly with clients, they can identify needs beyond just food and clothing.

• Referral Network: They connect clients to other agencies for help with rent, utilities, counseling, and medical needs.
• Disaster Response: They are set up to assist during local emergencies, such as government shutdowns or sudden economic downturns that affect SNAP benefits.

4. Community Hub (“Neighbors Helping Neighbors”)

Beyond the physical goods, Bethel serves a social role.

• Volunteer Opportunities: It is a major center for volunteerism, offering residents (including those needing community service hours) a place to work and socialize.
• Dignity: Their “client choice” model (allowing people to shop for clothes rather than just receiving a bag) and their philosophy of “neighbors helping neighbors” are designed to de-stigmatize asking for help.

Summary of Operations

• Location: 1719 4th St, Moriarty, NM
• Service Area: Torrance County, Santa Fe County, and the greater Estancia Valley.