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Dallas County food pantry at risk of closing by the end of the year

  //food-wine.news-articles.net/content/2025/10/21 .. y-at-risk-of-closing-by-the-end-of-the-year.html
  Published in Food and Wine on Tuesday, October 21st 2025 at 6:58 GMT by KY3
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Dallas County Food Pantry Faces Possible Closure by Year’s End

The community’s lifeline, the Dallas County Food Pantry, is on the brink of shutting its doors by the end of 2025, according to a report published on October 21 by KY3 News. The pantry, which has served more than 7,000 families each month for the past 15 years, is confronting a perfect storm of funding cuts, dwindling donations, and staffing shortages that threaten to leave countless low‑income residents without a critical safety net.

Financial Crunch

The pantry’s primary funding comes from a combination of state grants, municipal contributions, and private donations. Over the past two fiscal years, state allocations for food assistance programs have dropped by 18 percent, leaving the pantry to cover a larger share of its operating costs. Local government officials say the budget deficit is tied to broader county spending cuts, particularly in social services.

“We’ve had to ask for a higher rate of volunteer participation and more in-kind donations,” said Sarah Martinez, the pantry’s executive director, during an interview on the KY3 call‑in segment. “The shortfall is real, and we’re not just looking at food costs; we’re also grappling with rent, utilities, and transportation expenses.”

Volunteer and Donation Shortfalls

Volunteer numbers have fallen by an estimated 30 percent in the last year, as community members juggle pandemic‑related work demands and caregiving responsibilities. Many of the pantry’s volunteers were long‑time residents who now find it difficult to commit to the regular schedule required to keep the shelves stocked.

The pantry’s food drive, which historically attracted thousands of donated items each month, has seen a 25 percent decline in contributions since the start of 2025. The pandemic has also strained the supply chain, causing some donors to redirect their efforts to larger, more centralized food banks.

In a related story on the same KY3 channel, an interview with a local church’s food donation coordinator highlighted a growing reliance on corporate sponsors. “We’ve partnered with grocery stores to collect non‑perishable items, but even those partnerships have become harder to sustain as the stores face their own economic pressures,” the coordinator noted.

Impact on the Community

The pantry is located in a predominantly low‑income neighborhood, where food insecurity rates are significantly higher than the county average. According to a recent county health survey cited by KY3, over 12 percent of residents in the district report that they are worried about their next meal. The pantry also serves as a hub for nutrition education, providing workshops on meal planning and budgeting.

Local schools and community centers rely on the pantry to feed children during school‑break periods. A follow‑up article linked to the KY3 report referenced a statement from the Dallas County School District superintendent, who expressed concern that the pantry’s potential closure could disrupt existing nutrition programs. “We’re exploring alternative arrangements, but this is a serious challenge for us and the families we serve,” the superintendent said.

Community Response and Possible Solutions

In the weeks following the KY3 report, a volunteer rally was organized by a local non‑profit called FoodForAll. The rally drew over 200 participants, many of whom signed up to increase their volunteer hours. FoodForAll’s founder, James Lee, urged residents to consider “small acts of giving” – such as donating a gallon of milk or a can of beans – to help keep the pantry operational.

Meanwhile, the Dallas County Commission held a public hearing on October 28 to discuss potential emergency funding. County Commissioner Alan Green announced that the county will allocate an additional $25,000 to the pantry for the remainder of the fiscal year, but Commissioner Green emphasized that this would be a stopgap measure.

On the federal side, the pantry’s leadership has applied for emergency funding through the USDA’s Food Distribution Programs. If approved, the grant could provide the pantry with $150,000 in the next 12 months, potentially buying time until state budgets recover.

Looking Ahead

The pantry’s executive director is cautiously optimistic. “We’re at a crossroads,” Martinez said. “We have the support of the community, but we need a sustainable solution. It’s going to require a mix of local volunteerism, private sponsorship, and public funding.”

If the emergency funding is not secured, the pantry may have to shut its doors in December, leaving a void in the food system that could have ripple effects across the entire Dallas County. The story remains closely monitored by KY3 and other local media outlets, who are following the county commission’s decisions, the status of federal grant applications, and the community’s response to the impending crisis.

As the year draws to a close, residents, officials, and volunteers are rallying together to keep the pantry open, a testament to the power of community solidarity in the face of adversity.