Catholic Charities Dallas Opens New Food Pantry

The client-choice pantry at St. Jude Center-Park Central was funded by North Texas Food Bank grants.

Neighbors in North Dallas now have more access to nutritious food thanks to a new client choice-style pantry opened by Catholic Charities Dallas.

Created largely with the support of two North Texas Food Bank grants, the pantry is located inside Catholic Charities’ St. Jude Center-Park Central facility, which is a former hotel that was transformed into a permanent supportive housing facility and co-working space for 202 formerly unsheltered adults.

Speaking during a ribbon cutting for the pantry on March 7, David Woodyard, CEO of Catholic Charities Dallas, said the pantry will provide food to the residents of St. Jude Center as well as neighbors in the surrounding 75231, 75240 and 75243 zip codes. In total, they hope to provide access to around 1 million meals annually.

“Catholic Charities’ ability to address food insecurity on such a large scale is only possible due to the tremendous support of the North Texas Food Bank,” he said.

The pantry, which is set up like a small grocery store to allow for client choice, was funded largely by an NTFB Capacity Building Grant and a Hope for Tomorrow Grant, both awarded in fiscal year 2023.

“We know that we are much stronger in fighting hunger when we work together,” said Anne Readhimer, NTFB Vice President of Community Impact, speaking during the ribbon cutting ceremony.

While the Capacity Building Grant supported the pantry’s creation, the Hope for Tomorrow Grant is helping fund case management efforts for those who visit the pantry. NTFB staff will be available to assist with applying for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Benefits and neighbors will also be connected with other Catholic Charities programs, including financial literacy classes, vocational training and employment services. Woodyard said much of that is available through the St. Jude co-working space.  

Catholic Charities was one of six organizations to receive a pilot Hope for Tomorrow Grant. The grant program works to fund wraparound services, like the classes at St. Jude, that can help address the underlying barriers to food security.

Readhimer said the client choice model the pantry uses is one that promotes dignity and respect, and that it’s crucial in helping meet the need in Dallas County, which has the sixth-highest rate of food insecurity in the nation.

The pantry is the final element of a three-part renovation effort that also included creating the co-working space and turning the hotel’s former ballroom into a community center.

Sister Mary Anne Owens, president of the Catholic Housing Initiative, which owns St. Jude Center-Park Central, said in addition to providing food, she’s grateful to see the pantry and community room promoting relationships.

“So often, the poor and the homeless are also friendless,” she said. “This is a community, and we want them to build community.”

Find out more about the North Texas Food Bank’s grant program here. Read more about Catholic Charities Dallas St. Jude Center-Park Central here.