On the first Friday of each month, the North Texas Food Bank (NTFB) arrives to Our Savior Lutheran Church in Rockwall to provide food for those in need. Each month, the church and the NTFB can count on Rockwall Rotarians to give their time and energy!
The July distribution was no different. As the mobile food bank set up, volunteers from the church and Rotary were on hand ready to serve. On any distribution day, 18-24 Rotarians arrive to hand out food items and smile; and while this day saw a few less with 11 present they were no less eager to be there! The Rockwall Rotary Club began providing volunteers to the North Texas Food Bank in September 2017 at the original distribution site, Church of Prayer, in Fate.
“I have enjoyed every minute I spend volunteering for NTFB, Church of Prayer and Our Savior Lutheran Church” says Tom Dortch, member of the Rockwall club who coordinates volunteers for the distribution. “When we first started helping the North Texas Food Bank Mobile Food Pantry, there were only four Rotary volunteers on site. I currently have more than 24 dedicated and active Rockwall Rotary Club members that I send reminders to a few days before the event to make sure they mark their calendars.” Our Savior Lutheran Church has hosted the monthly event since May 2019. Kim Holdeman coordinates church participation and reports that almost 70,000 pounds of food have been distributed just this year alone!
Averaging close to 9900 pounds of food items per month for approximately 195 families, the church has long term plans to continue hosting and supporting the mobile food pantry. With the size of the monthly distribution, Dortch says regular support of Rotary volunteers makes a difference. Their commitment and ongoing service to this program and the community is a great example of how the Rotary members live out their mission of “Service Above Self”.