About Us
Columbus Food Pantry Mission
Community churches working together to eliminate hunger. Matthew 25:35
Columbus Food Pantry Goal
Our goal is to nourish and empower our community by providing access to wholesome and nutritious food for individuals and families facing food insecurity. We are committed to fostering a compassionate and inclusive environment that values the dignity of every person. Through collaborative partnerships and dedicated volunteers, we strive to alleviate hunger, promote self-sufficiency, and build a stronger, healthier community for all.
Our Partners
Columbus Food Pantry Facts
Hunger is a direct result of poverty
Percent of Residents Below Federal Poverty Line
Percent of Residents Below Federal Poverty Line
Families below the poverty level must spend a disproportionate amount of their income on food which prevents them from spending money on healthcare, education, workforce readiness, housing, etc. In other words, the Columbus Food Pantry services helps to free up income for essentials needed for advancement.
Percent of Residents Below Federal Poverty Line
Percent of Residents Below Federal Poverty Line
Percent of Residents Below Federal Poverty Line
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 14.2% of Texans are below the federal poverty line. In Colorado County that number is 17.3%
According to feedingtexas.org, 1 in 5 or 20% of children in Texas are food deprived and 11% of Seniors in households in Texas are food insecure.
Need is Increasing
Percent of Residents Below Federal Poverty Line
Creating Independence
The Columbus Food Pantry has seen a steady increase in the average number of households served by the food pantry from 2020 to 2023. This upward trend reflects the growing impact and outreach of the food pantry in addressing the community's needs over the specified period.
Creating Independence
Creating Independence
Creating Independence
While the Pantry is aware we serve several households that cannot survive without our services, for the most part the goal is to supplement the needs of clients: help them become independent and not create a dependency.
Numbers Snapshot
Creating Independence
Numbers Snapshot
45% of our clients are children and seniors.
18% of clients registered in 2022 have not returned in 2023.
More Than Cans
Creating Independence
Numbers Snapshot
The Pantry continued to augment the monthly food bags for most of the year to include fresh vegetables, eggs, and more meat, including HEB vouchers for holiday meat and produce in November.
How We Raise Funds
Looking to The Future
How We Raise Funds
While we work with community churches, we are an independent 501C3 nonprofit organization. Our Pantry is 100% volunteer supported. It is because of community support that we can provide much needed services to families in our community.
On top of donations from the community, corporate and private foundations, and local grocery stores, the food pantry receives grants to help supplement costs.
Keeping it Lean
Looking to The Future
How We Raise Funds
In 2023 our food pantry was able to use 92% of our budget to purchase food. This is done by keeping our operational expenses to a minimum.
This means your money goes far to help feed families.
Did you know that a $1 donation can purchase 5 pounds of food when we purchase from our regional partner? For these reasons, we do encourage monetar
In 2023 our food pantry was able to use 92% of our budget to purchase food. This is done by keeping our operational expenses to a minimum.
This means your money goes far to help feed families.
Did you know that a $1 donation can purchase 5 pounds of food when we purchase from our regional partner? For these reasons, we do encourage monetary giving over product donation, when possible, so we can maximize efficiencies with volunteer staff and the purchasing power of your donation.
Looking to The Future
Looking to The Future
Looking to The Future
We continue to grow and change with our community.
Through a generous grant from the Food Bank of the Golden Crescent, we are now able to check in clients with iPads and a laptop. This process allows the Pantry to have data in a timely and user-friendly manner and serve our clients faster!
History
Since its inception in 1992, the Columbus Food Pantry has evolved through various stages, with Tom and Kathy Fleming generously overseeing its operations for the majority at the beginning. While its physical locations have changed over the years, the pantry is currently operated at the Family Life Center of the First United Methodist Church. In 2018, a dedicated effort was made to revitalize the pantry's status as a 501c3 organization, leading to the formation of a small board.
The Ministerial Alliance played a pivotal role in sponsoring the Columbus Food Pantry, enlisting parishioners from their respective churches to constitute the first official board. In 2019, the board actively engaged in familiarizing themselves with the pantry's operations, became members of the Chamber of Commerce, launched a Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/nobodyhungry), adopted a meaningful motto "Community Churches working together to eliminate hunger, Matthew 25:35", and introduced a distinctive logo created by Cameron Collier, the daughter of a board member.
In the same year, a successful fundraiser was organized to acquire a new commercial freezer. The challenges of 2020 prompted the adoption of a drive-through distribution style, which remains in place, and witnessed a significant rise in community needs. Thanks to generous donations, the pantry was able to purchase two new commercial refrigerators, enhancing its capacity to offer a wider variety of cold items, including butter and eggs.
Distribution takes place on the third Friday of every month, undeterred by weather conditions. The pantry has consistently adapted to external challenges, ensuring a steadfast supply chain and the availability of food bags for those in need. Anticipating fluctuating demand, the pantry strives to remain well-stocked, producing additional bags as required. In 2021, the average monthly service extended to 190 households, serving nearly 600 individuals.
To maintain the highest standards, the Columbus Food Pantry undergoes an annual audit by the Food Bank of the Golden Crescent, ensuring compliance with regulations established by Feeding America, Feeding Texas, USDA, and other governing bodies. Volunteers and board members actively participate in Food Safety and Handling as well as Civil Rights training courses, reinforcing the pantry's commitment to compliance and community service.
Location
Food distribution is on the 3rd Friday of each month from the First United Methodist Church Family Life Center located at 419 Washington Street, Columbus. On day of distribution, the line starts at Travis and Washington street and continues down Washington.
Community Churches
Thank you to the churches that help!
Each of these churches is involved in helping with our monthly distribution based on a rotation:
- St. Paul United Methodist