For the past 7 months, Network has relied heavily on the Get Shift Done initiative formed in the wake of COVID-19 that connects the affected service industry workforce with local non-profits to serve and provide hunger relief to communities. Each day, we have had an average of 9 workers per shift to help us manage the increased demand on our Food Pantry. 

We have just learned the funding for Get Shift Done is no longer available and on November 15, we will no longer have access to these workers.

Prior to COVID, we were serving about 150 families per week in our Food Pantry. That number has grown to 700 per week.  Without the help of the Get Shift Done workers, we will not be able to continue to maintain this service level unless we can get enough volunteers to fill the gap.

Whether you are working from home, are retired or have a student who needs volunteer hours, we need you! Students 16 and up can sign up to volunteer in our Food Pantry and Clothing Closet.

Safety protocols are in place with temperature checks and mask and glove requirements.  We are also putting limits on the number of volunteers that can be working at once to better manage our work areas.

Please consider signing up for a shift today at https://thenetwork.org/get-involved/

Volunteers are needed Monday-Thursday from 7:30 am to 4 pm and Saturday from 9 am to 2 pm.

The need for our Food Pantry is increasing not decreasing and we just can’t continue to meet this demand if we don’t have enough volunteers.

Thank you for your support to help our neighbors.

Network of Community Ministries is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with a service area encompassing the 14 zip codes in Dallas County that make up the Richardson Independent School District (RISD). Founded in 1985,Network is a non-denominational, community-based organization serving nearly 9,000 individuals annually through over 47,000 units of service. Our mission is to care, coach and empower our neighbors in need as they seek an improved quality of life. Current programming at Network includes Emergency Services (food, clothing, utilities, rent and income supports), a Medical & Dental voucher program, Senior's Net (supplemental food, handyman service, companion calls, information and referrals), and Stabilization Programs (Pathways case management and stability planning, Job Resource Center, Financial Empowerment Classes).

This Fall, as an extension of our main Food Pantry, Network is launching a new Mobile Food Pantry through a partnership with RISD. The Mobile Pantry Program will initially focus on 4 high needs RISD schools (Memorial Park Academy High School, Audelia Creek Elementary School, Liberty Junior High School, and Thurgood Marshall Elementary School) providing food on a monthly basis for qualifying students and their families. In addition to food distribution, Network will provide access to nutritional information and healthy recipes for all individuals receiving food and information on Network's other basic needs and stabilization programming for each family.

North Texas Giving Day (September 19) is one of our biggest fundraisers of the year. Added to the effort this year will be a $10,000 challenge grant from a group of generous donors which will come to Network when we hit $45,000 in donations. Help us reach that magic mark so we can make the most of this important day for families in need. You can start scheduling your gift on Sept 9! https://www.northtexasgivingday.org/network-of-community-ministries-inc

Thank you!