What is the purpose of the food pantry?  Primarily, it is an emergency food source for families facing a variety of crises. It also provides a nutritious bag lunch and hygienic items to homeless people.

2007 First Sunday Food Drive

In August, a total of 515 pounds of non-perishable food and personal hygiene items was collected for the Mt. Olive Food Pantry. That amount increases this year’s total to 3,514 pounds. The 2007 goal is 6,715 pounds.

Thank you very much for your continued support of this important ministry.

Yearly totals:

• 2006 - 6,798 pounds


• 2005 - 6,514 pounds


• 2004* - 5,386 pounds

GRAND TOTAL: 18,698 POUNDS

*10 months

Where is the food pantry?

The food pantry is located at Mt. Olive Lutheran Church (3100 Martin Luther King Blvd.) and serves two zip codes: 75210 and 75215 (area roughly South of 30 and East of 45, near Fair Park).

Can anyone get food?

In order to receive food, needy families must go through an interview process. They have to provide proof of residence, proof of income and social security numbers for each family member. Clients include disabled persons, elderly people and the working poor. These are not only jobless people and none are homeless.

How often can people receive food?

Once approved, families are served several bags of groceries and are allowed to come once a month for a maximum of three months. After that time period, they cannot return for an additional three months. They may ask for additional help after the second three-month interval but their applications have to be reviewed and updated. Decisions are then made on an individual basis.

What about those who live outside of the designated area?

Occasionally, families outside the two zip codes (75210 and 75215) will ask for emergency assistance. No emergency request is refused, but they are assisted that one time only. They are then referred to other agencies.

How are the homeless served?

Homeless people can come each Wednesday. They don’t have to show any documentation and receive a nutritious bag lunch. Also, hygiene kits are given to the homeless once a month. These mainly consist of travel-sized soap, lotion, shampoo, deodorant, mouthwash, toothpaste, toothbrushes and disposable razors.

How many people are served and what does it cost?

The total number of people served at the pantry in 2003 and 2002 was 22,093 and 15,190, respectively. As some are repeat visitors, the number of unique individuals served was less. The cost to serve the 22,093 people in 2003 was $41,215.67 ­ less than $2 per person. That’s not per meal but per person! This low per-person cost is made possible because of the area congregations who contribute food to the pantry.

The director of the North Texas Food Bank said that the food pantry at Mt. Olive serves more people in 3 hours than most other pantries do in a week.

When is the pantry open and who serves on staff?

The pantry is open on Wednesday from 11 am to 2 pm. All of the workers at the pantry are volunteers ­ there is no paid staff. King of Glory Lutheran Church staffs the first and third Wednesdays and Bethany Lutheran Church staffs the second and fourth Wednesdays.