My name is Thais Alvarez, and I am writing on behalf of King Jesus Church. We are in the process of applying to establish a new food pantry through our church to serve individuals and families experiencing food insecurity in our community. Our church is located in Lakeland, Florida, and we serve a diverse population that includes low-income families, individuals with limited access to transportation, seniors, single parents, immigrants, and working families who are struggling due to rising living costs. Many of the households we serve include children, and some families are facing food insecurity for the first time. At this time, we are a new pantry program, but there is a strong and immediate need in our community. We anticipate initially serving approximately 150 individuals or families, with the expectation that this number will grow as the pantry becomes established and known in the neighborhood.
Our church facility is well equipped to operate a food pantry. We have:
A full kitchen
Designated rooms for food storage and distribution
Adequate space for organizing, packing, and distributing food
Volunteers ready to assist with pantry operations
The goal of our pantry program is to provide consistent, dignified food assistance while also offering compassion, prayer (when welcomed), and community support. Our pantry will be church-based and community-focused, open to anyone in need regardless of background
We are committed to following all food safety guidelines, maintaining proper records, and working in partnership with your organization to responsibly distribute food to those who need it most. Thank you for considering our application. We would be honored to partner with you to help address hunger in our community. Please feel free to contact us if you need any additional information or documentation. With gratitude,
Thais Alvarez
ProducePedia is a free resource that covers the types of fresh produce that can be delivered to food pantries. Each entry includes information on color, taste, and possible uses. People unfamiliar with the vegetable or fruit will learn how to use it, and those who are familiar with it still might learn a fun fact or two!
The Cooperative Extension sites have a wealth of information for any backyard gardener. Once you go to the site (each one if very different from the others) look for a link for “homes and gardens”, “landscape”, “consumer horticulture”, etc. to find information on improving your backyard garden. Neighboring state sites may offer information your own state’s site lacks.
