The 100th truckload of approximately 40,000 pounds of food donated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in celebration of America’s 250th anniversary arrived at a food pantry in Dallas, Texas, this Thursday.
The truckload — delivered to Joe’s Pantry, run by Catholic Charities Dallas — was the 100th of 250 truckloads of food that the Church of Jesus Christ is donating to food banks nationwide as part of the America Gives initiative headed by America250.
“America250 is showing that all Americans care about each other,” said commissioner Cathy Gillespie of America250, the nonpartisan congressional commission charged with organizing celebrations to commemorate the nation’s semiquincentennial.
Gillespie, who was present at the Dallas delivery and the departure of the first food truckloads in Salt Lake City, expressed her gratitude for the church’s food donations, which “bring hope, bring sustenance and bring what people need.”
The recent food donation in Dallas included pasta, flour, beans, peanut butter and dried milk, as well as a variety of canned fruits, vegetables and meats.
Most of the donated goods were produced by the church and funded by member donations, per a press release published on ChurchofJesusChrist.org.
This delivery will help Joe’s Pantry provide nearly 34,000 meals to people in the Dallas area, the church press release states. It will also benefit Soldiers’ Angels, as Joe’s Pantry will share the food donations with the nonprofit organization as it opens a new food pantry for veterans and military families.
“Joe’s Pantry is a place where the rubber meets the road,” said David Woodyard, president and CEO of Catholic Charities Dallas. “Food is universal and can help anybody. We’re so blessed to be able to have the opportunity to serve those in need.”
Woodyard added that Catholic Charities couldn’t do anything without “great collaborators.”
“One at the top of the list is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints,” he said. “To have that help, not only here, but around America and around the world, really enables us to do the work we do.”
Thomas Straley of Soldiers’ Angels likewise expressed his appreciation for the collaboration.
“I believe the Founding Fathers would be very pleased with the partnerships they would see here today in Dallas,” he said.
By July 4, the Church of Jesus Christ will have delivered food donations to each of the nation’s 50 states, per the church’s release. It will then continue delivering its final donations to food banks throughout the rest of the year — donating an estimated 10 million pounds of food in total.
Here’s a map of where the church has already delivered food donations in celebration of America’s 250th anniversary.
“Each delivery (across the country) has been met with excitement — not only for what it contains and how it will help families and individuals in need, but also for how it brings a community together to celebrate our country,” Elder Matthew S. Holland, executive director of the church’s communication department, said in the church’s release.
Elder Holland was present at the Dallas delivery and said America250’s America Gives initiative is an opportunity for individuals to work together and care for each other.
“We all long for unity of purpose, regardless of our differences, and we can always, no matter our differences, unite in service,” he said.
“Serving together, relieving the hungry and others in need, binds us together as communities, as a nation and as God’s children. It also personally brings us joy.”
JustServe and FamilySearch, both organizations sponsored by the Church of Jesus Christ, have also been collaborating with America250 to celebrate the nation’s semiquincentennial. They are facilitating opportunities for individuals and families to explore their heritage and the nation’s history, as well as making 2026 a record-setting year of volunteer service.
Learn more about how the church is celebrating America’s 250th anniversary and how you can join in here.
Also, here are details for the special broadcast of “Music & the Spoken Word” that Andy Reid will guest narrate this July in celebration of the nation’s anniversary.
