We were lucky to catch up with Debrah Nickerson recently and have shared our conversation below.
Debrah , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. What’s been the best thing you’ve ever seen (or done yourself) to show a customer that you appreciate them?
In my case, “customers” are the individuals and families we serve through our nonprofit outreach. One of the most powerful moments that showed our deep appreciation for those we serve happened during a freezing winter night in Fort Worth.
Temperatures had dropped into the teens, and many of our unsheltered friends were still outside in tents. I remember calling volunteers and friends late that night, convincing them to ride with me as we rented a van, loaded it with blankets, firewood, and winter gear, and drove through the city streets searching for those in need. It wasn’t about a scheduled event or recognition, it was simply about showing up when people needed it most.
One of the most unforgettable moments that night was when our team, along with a few high school interns, hiked through the woods to check on a tent community. As we got closer, one of the teens yelled that smoke was coming from the top of a tent. When we opened it, we found a few people inside who had built a small fire in the middle of the tent to stay warm. It was a powerful reminder of their resilience and how meaningful our visits, supplies, and care are in those moments.
Our “customers” aren’t looking for handouts; they’re looking for hope, dignity, and to be seen. By showing up, especially in moments like that we let them know that they matter and that we genuinely care. I believe that’s the greatest form of appreciation we can give.
In 2023, we were blessed to partner with a local fraternity that brought along its dedicated female support auxiliary. Together, they have proven to be both consistent and faithful to our cause. Their presence has added strength, unity, and reliability to our outreach efforts. Whether it’s serving meals, unloading large donations, or showing up in the community, they’ve demonstrated true commitment and heart. Partnerships like this remind us that when organizations come together for a shared purpose, the impact multiplies and lives are changed in the process.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
My name is Debrah Nickerson, and I’m the founder and executive director of Fort Worth Five Loaves and Two Fish Outreach, a faith-based nonprofit that serves individuals and families experiencing homelessness and poverty throughout the Fort Worth and surrounding areas. What began years ago as a simple act of compassion, sharing meals and clothing with a few people on the street, has grown into a full community outreach that now provides weekly “boots-to-ground” homeless feedings, hydration kits, clothing, hygiene products, resources, and large-scale seasonal initiatives like our annual Community Christmas Giveaway, which serves hundreds of children and families each year.
I didn’t “plan” to get into this work, I was called to it. Over time, I began to see that the real need went beyond food or clothing; it was about restoring hope, dignity, and connection. Every program we’ve built from Hydrate the Homeless to Diaper Delights, Seeds of Hope Gardening, and Affirmed & Anchored affirmations was created to meet both physical and emotional needs in practical, loving ways.
What sets our organization apart is that we truly meet people where they are literally and spiritually. We don’t wait for people to come to us; we go to them. We show up in parks, under bridges, and in neighborhoods where many others might not go. Our volunteers and partners serve not from pity, but from a place of partnership, purpose, and presence.
I’m most proud of the countless lives we’ve touched, from children whose faces light up when they receive a new pair of shoes, to families who find relief knowing someone cares enough to help, to unsheltered friends who tell us, “You didn’t forget about us.”
An addition to be proud of the countless lives that we touch in the streets, I am also proud of the fact that we were able to give life to people who thought that they had no purpose. My oldest sister Vicki Jones started serving with us back in 2020 and when she started serving it gave her life like no other. she already had compassion for people who were struggling, but did not know how to direct that compassion. She started serving with us in 2020 and on a conversation. She advised that she was dying inside because she had no purpose. She was retired and just sitting home basically watching TV. She not only started serving she started helping fund the ministry. She sacrifice a portion of her home so that we would have options for storage 24 hours a day so that we can help struggling families whenever the need arose. My sister died March 30, 2025 and it left a deep hole in the ministry, as well as in our hearts. At one point, we did not think that we could keep going without her. It wasn’t just the finances. It was the joy that she brought to the people, yes, it was material things as well, but the people on the streets were hurt and broken of learning to her death and then because they’re homeless some people we don’t see for weeks at a time or even months at a time so every time we see someone and they ask about her we have to relive that moment of sympathizing with them and them sympathizing with us.
At the heart of my work is faith, compassion, and community. I want people to know that it doesn’t take much to make a difference, just a willing heart and a consistent hand. My hope is that our work continues to inspire others to serve, give, and love beyond comfort zones. Because together, we can create a ripple of compassion that transforms entire communities.
Can you open up about how you funded your business?
Unlike many organizations that begin with large startup funds or major investors, our nonprofit, Fort Worth Five Loaves and Two Fish Outreach, was born out of faith, compassion, and personal sacrifice. In the beginning, there was no formal budget or capital, just a deep conviction to serve those in need.
I and board members started by using our own personal resources to buy food, water, blankets, and hygiene items for individuals living on the streets of Fort Worth. Over time, as people saw the genuine impact of what we were doing, others began to join in friends, family, churches, and community partners who wanted to help in any way they could.
Today, we continue to operate primarily through out-of-pocket contributions, mini-grants, and the generosity of individual donors and corporate sponsors who believe in our mission. Each dollar is stretched to its fullest potential to ensure that it directly supports the people and families we serve.
Our story is proof that you don’t have to have a lot to start, you just have to start with what’s in your hand, and trust that the right people and resources will align when your purpose is genuine.
We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?
One of the biggest lessons I had to unlearn was that everyone who shows up to serve, partner, or collaborate has the same heart and intentions that I do.
In the beginning, I assumed that everyone who wanted to be involved in outreach genuinely cared about the people we serve, that they were led by compassion and not by recognition or personal gain. Over time, I learned that sadly, that’s not always the case. Some come because they see potential financial opportunities, others for photo ops or publicity, and a few have even used our organization’s name to benefit themselves financially. That was a painful realization.
Even more heartbreaking was witnessing people treat those we serve with a lack of dignity, talking down to them or serving from a place of pride instead of love. It reminded me that not everyone’s heart beats the same way when it comes to service.
I had to unlearn the idea that everyone who “wants to help” is automatically aligned with the mission. Now, I’m more intentional about discernment, watching actions over words and ensuring that our volunteers and partners truly serve with compassion, respect, and integrity.
This lesson strengthened my leadership. It taught me that protecting the heart of our mission is just as important as fulfilling it. We don’t just serve meals, we serve people, and they deserve to be treated with love and dignity every single time.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.fortworthfiveloavesandtwofishoutreach.org
- Instagram: Ffwfiveloaves2
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1A1tG9nDfH/?mibextid=wwXIfr
- Twitter: fwfiveloaves2
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@fortworthfiveloavestwofishoutr?si=Ys2PhHdAgYfMHJXJ
