NEWS MEDIA CONTACTS:
Sharisa Lewis
DFW Media Assistant Director
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
214-405-1768
slewis@comm.churchofjesuschrist.org


Dallas–Fort Worth (July 3, 2025) – The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is supporting local hunger relief efforts by delivering 4,320 gallons of 2% milk to two North Texas food banks on Thursday.

St. Jude Centers, operated by Catholic Charities Dallas (CCD), and Harvesting in Mansfield (HIM Food Bank) each received 2,160 gallons.

“We’re incredibly grateful for the partnership, generosity and grace of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in providing milk (and so much more) to our pantries,” said Dave Woodyard, CEO of Catholic Charities Dallas. “Collaborations like these make a huge difference in serving the most vulnerable in our community”.

Milk is one of the most requested—and hardest to obtain—items at food banks, according to Feeding America.

As the top food source of calcium, vitamin D, and potassium, milk plays a key role in nutrition. But for many children and families in need, even basic staples like milk—and the essential nutrients it provides—are often out of reach.

“We’re grateful for the opportunity to partner with Catholic Charities Dallas to provide milk to our community,” said Peter Harris, communications director for the Church in the Dallas–Fort Worth metro area. “This delivery was so needed in our area.”

Harris added, “We are thankful for the work Catholic Charities does day in and day out to address food insecurity in Dallas. Together, we share a commitment to alleviating hunger, and we look forward to continued opportunities to support this vital mission.”

Devon Hardeman, who works at Joe’s Food Pantry in partnership with CCD, said, “Our residents always ask for milk and love the LDS milk.”

“The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is so thankful to partner with HIM Food Bank because of their dedication to providing food staples to so many in their immediate area,” said Janae Baird, Fort Worth communications director.

“They are also a trusted organization to send surplus food to, because they partner with many other local food pantries,” Baird added. “If they have surplus milk, they are able to distribute it quickly and effectively to ensure it reaches people in need throughout Mansfield and the surrounding communities.”

The Church has a long-standing partnership with both Catholic Charities Dallas and Harvesting in Mansfield, providing volunteers and donations as needs arise. Both organizations have the infrastructure to distribute the milk efficiently across the DFW area.

The Church and these two nonprofit partners share the goal of alleviating hunger and helping individuals in need, with an emphasis on treating everyone with dignity and respect as they work toward greater self-reliance.

This donation originated from the Church’s dairy operations in Utah. One of the Church’s regional humanitarian priorities is to help meet the basic needs of those experiencing hunger. Texas currently leads the nation in food insecurity.

DFW ranks third among U.S. metro areas for the highest number of people facing hunger, according to Feeding America.

Photo Captions:

Milk on conveyor built at Salt Lake City Welfare Square. The milk is distributed nationwide to food banks.

Devon Hardeman, who works at Joe’s Food Pantry, helps unload the milk donation Thursday morning.

A CCD worker unloads the milk donation from Salt Lake City Thursday morning.

About Catholic Charities Dallas

Catholic Charities Dallas (CCD) was formally established in 1941 and incorporated from the Catholic Diocese of Dallas in 1997. Each year, CCD serves more than 200,000 individuals through financial literacy, employment services, education, food programs, immigration legal services, refugee resettlement, disaster services, and permanent supportive housing.

CCD operates more than 30 individual programs across the nine counties that make up the Diocese of Dallas. From homelessness to hunger, from victims of abuse to refugees of war and oppression, CCD partners with clients during their greatest time of need and supports them on their path to stability and self-sufficiency.

Learn how to give or receive help at https://www.ccdallas.org.

About Harvesting in Mansfield

HIM Food Bank continues to be a beacon of hope and support for the Mansfield community, providing vital resources to children, families, and seniors. Its mission is to help individuals move from food insecurity to long-term stability by offering groceries, hygiene supplies, and support services.

In 2024, HIM responded to a 35% increase in families seeking assistance, despite rising food costs and inflation. The organization relies on community partners and volunteers to meet growing demand.

Learn how you can help—or get help—at https://himfoodbank.org or https://www.facebook.com/HIMCenter1.