Today we’d like to introduce you to Iris Garcia.
Hi Iris, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
My story started after understanding the need my community had after the Pandemic hit in 2020. My name is Iris Garcia and I am the owner of Iris’s Kitchen. I am a happy wife going on 16 years to an amazing Army Veteran by the name of Edmund Garcia (Quick Note: My husband and I were featured on Abilene Christian University who advertised their online University on COMCAST and all local Houston channels last year 2021). As well, I am a mother of 4 beautiful girls (Kyra 24, Cameron 14, Ava 12, Elle 7), business owner of Executive Support Services (Administrative Firm), a full-time student of ACU, and an ordained Pastor, My family and I have lived in Houston, Texas going on over 15 years and we have fallen in love with our community. We are leaders for an organization called Greater Works Ministries for over 13 years. The organization is led by Bishop Shon and Dena Gray (local Houstonians), close friends, and who we have become to call family. We have fallen in love with Houston and we are always looking for ways to be a resource to our community.
That being said….
When the Pandemic hit our nation it stressed many working households. My heart was heavy for working moms and dads losing their jobs, and having to leave their children at home (virtual learning). I realized I had to help relieve those stress factors by opening up a kitchen and preparing weekly meals for my local community. I offered lunch & dinner packages to working moms/dads with children, singles, medical frontline workers, those who truly did not have the energy to come home and find time to cook. Our community was exhausted from the Pandemic. I offered these services in Jan. 2021. I had no idea that my food would take off. I went from offering weekly hot meals Monday through Friday and KETO to-go Meals, to now catering on a large scale for corporations and organizations. I was so overwhelmed with community orders, I had to close my public advertisement and offer my services on a private level. My food became such a hit, I began to establish partnerships with a local senior citizens apartment complex, and non-profit organizations. The specific complex ended up hiring me to come in on certain days to provide food DEMO. I took that time to sit and talk to the senior citizens about how they were feeling, I provide my food services as an outlet of comfort! I as well established a partnership with the local Hampton Inn and other local event venues in and around my area.
I started out with having a few families to servicing over 100 families within a 6-month time frame. I have now opened my services on a larger scale. Currently, I am catering events for up to 200 people or more. I have been offered several opportunities to open my own food truck to investment discussions on opening up a restaurant. Right now, I am currently securing a permanent location in Houston, that will allow me to hire a staff to cater to larger scale companies and events. I never would have imagined my small idea to help would have landed me in this position.
I hope my testimony encourages others. I would say, never hold back the greatness that is inside of you. When you are given a light, SHINE IT! When shining your light during dark times and dark places, I promise you, people will always find HOPE still exist! ~ Iris G.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It has not always been easy. Oddly enough, my strength came from my strong views of God and the strength He gave me to move forward. Many times I had to go out in inclement weather or when we were all ordered to stay indoors…. knowing I had customers who paid for my services and who relied on my hot meals to feed their families, I never quit or canceled my obligations to my clients. I knew how important my role began to be for my community.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I love to help people. If I could summarize myself, that would be my starting statement. I love to help people. I am a humanitarian by nature. So I help people on purpose! First I am a dedicated wife to my husband and a mother to my 4 daughters…..but when I am not occupied with being a wife and/or a mom…..
In my day job, I work for Emancipation Park Conservancy, a non-profit organization here in Houston Texas. It is the oldest park on Texas soil. I was the second employee to be hired after the park put over $33 million dollars in renovations to help rebuild and revitalize the park grounds for the local community and those surrounding. I assist our Board and Executive Director with administrative park functionalities, and I enjoy my job tremendously. I have been a dedicated employee for 4 years now!
I also have my own Administrative firm called Executive Support Services www.ineedadministration.com, which helps business owners establish the administrative foundation of their business. I have had the esteemed pleasure of working with Directors in the Pentagon, White House officials. and assisting with Army core administrative initiatives. I take my 25+ years of experience and consult other upcoming business owners and organizations with administrative directives and needs.
When I am not working on job-related or business-related affairs, I am doing Iris’s Kitchen on the weekends! I have secured in the last 3 months parties that range over 150+ or more. I have a wonderful team that assists me. My assistant Chef Joshua Weber flys in from Dallas and we put together a game plan for all of my catering events. I understand the importance of having a core team in place to help assist. My family, mother, and pastor (Dena) have played major roles in assisting with my catering business.
When I am not working on my Administrative business or working, I attend school full-time at Abilene Christian Univerity. Currently working on finishing my Bachelor’s degree in Administration and Operations Management. Even though I have years of experience, I have always wanted to finish my degree major, as I understand the importance and value of investing in yourself!
And lastly, my heart is our Non-Profit, Greater Works Ministries. My husband and I are pastors in our organization, as our organization was established in Houston in November 2009 by Overseer, Bishop Gray and his wife, Dena Gray. My husband is the Senior pastor and this organization has become our family. When the ice storm hit Houston in 2021, our organization set up a partnership with Centerpointe Energy. We were able to provide bottled water to over 1000 families here in the SE side of Houston. As well, throughout the year we pass out boxed meals and family packs to families in need. During Hurricane Ike, our organization was featured on CNN, as we played a major role in assisting the Houston community with dispatch rescues and relief. We provide mentorship programs to children in need. As well, we advocate for our Veterans. We run programs that assist Abused women and children. This organization has been a lighthouse to Houston. I wish sometimes the smaller organizations would get credit for the works that are done in the (not so talked about) areas that are at times neglected for help. Our goal is to meet the need of the community at the moment. When community needs are unnoticed it can create frustration, we want to meet those needs that many disregard or take a blind eye to.
My heart is Outreach and these are just the many areas I give back to my community.
What sets me apart from others, is my sincere and consistent dedication to humanity. I am a devoted wife, mother, business owner, pastor, student, sister, and daughter. Everything I do, I do it because this is who I was purposed to be. I give excellence in everything that touches my hand. My goal is to always make a positive impact in my generation and the generations to come. Legacy is my destiny!
Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
I love Houstonians. We are so passionate. When we agree, we ban together and we unite for the Greater Good! Lately, I am not proud of the increase in crime in our city. I plan on doing my part to help our city officials and police personnel as much as I can within our organizations.
Contact Info:
- Email: lesstimeinthekitchen@gmail.com
- Website: www.greatworks.net
- Instagram: instagram.com/iriskitchen.ig
- Other: www.ineedadministration.com
Image Credits:
Greater Works Ministries
Iris’s Kitchen
