THE GIVIING MOVEMENT'S BACK TO SCHOOL GIVE-AWAY..

HERE'S FOOTAGE FROM OUR BACK TO SCHOOL GIVAWAY LAST MONTH ENJOY!





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MINNIE'S FOOD PANTRY REPORTING!

It's been a while since I've documented, but we are as busy as ever. Today is Tuesday, one of our busier days here at Minnie's West Plano Food Pantry, but due to the rain, our clients have trickled in. (There's usually a line forming before we can open our doors!) However, we still managed to serve 19 families/and 68 individuals. That's not our typical staggering number for a Tuesday morning, but enough to be noticed on a rainy day.


Since Minnie's Food pantry's upgrade to Client's Choice,(a pantry that allow its clients to choose only the foods they eat) we have received so many new applicants!We are also happy to report that our volunteer base & random food drive assistance has grown as well!

Our clients have revealed that they feel independent, and more loved when they walk through the doors at Minnie's Food Pantry. It's hard to deny, we are greeted with more smiles now, than the embarrassed faces we had grown accustomed to seeing. Knowing that we are helping people feel better, while in their difficult situation, put smiles on our faces too!!

Our First Day as a Client Choice Pantry

WOW!! Are the only words that came to mind as I pulled into Minnie's West Plano Food Pantry on Saturday morning, August 8, 2009. We weren't opened yet but the line was already to the end of our building,and the parking lot was almost filled. We were excited and nervous, not sure what we'd experience by giving clients the choice of what they wanted.

The Giving Movement Prepares for Back To School

Well It's about that time again! As needy parents all over the metroplex prepare to send their children back school, we are preparing too! The Giving Movement has teamed up with Van Cheverolet of Carrollton, TX and plan to serve over 500 Children throughout North Texas! Please see press release below for more details. And Remember to tell everyone that Yes! Vancares4kids!

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Press Release
FREE BACK TO SCHOOL GIVEAWAY IN CARROLLTON, TX!

Van Chevrolet & The Giving Movement Organization teams up to serve an estimated 500 needy children in North Texas with Free School Supplies. This event will take place August 15, 2009, from 11am to 1:00 p.m. at Van Chevrolet North of LBJ Freeway, that’s 1700 I-35 Carrollton, Texas 75006

Pre-registration is “not” required, parents must show up to sign in with their children and they will receive their free school supplies. There will also be Free Hotdogs, Popcorn, Beverages, and More!

Huge Day, Despite Changes!

Today we serviced 140 people, (36) families. Due to lack of donations and increase in clientele, Minnie’s West Plano Food Pantry decided to temporarily alter the days that recipients could receive food. Since the day we've opened our doors we've allowed our clients to come once every 14 days, and we're open 5 days a week. That was a year and a half ago. As the word got out about the new food pantry in West Plano our numbers began to increase, and our funding, not so much. As we struggled to keep up with the demands of our community we decided to ask everyone if they would come once every 30 days instead of 14, until our finances would allow us to do otherwise.
In the last two days we noticed a difference, but it wasn't less people to serve. It was 29 more new faces! We thought by minimizing the amount of days our regulars could come it would give us a chance to serve the new people we had attracted so far this month, but that number increased by half in just two days? So much for that plan, but God always comes through!

This week we are receiving two extra food deliveries than what was originally anticipated. And most of the recipients gave a little something back to help out, it wasn't much, but it was enough to encourage our staff. We feel good about what we’re doing here at Minnie’s West Plano Food Pantry, and look forward to creating partnerships that will support us in this cause.


(We are located at 3100 Independence Parkway Ste# 217 Plano, Texas 75075. We are open Tues-Friday 9am-11am, and Saturdays 11am-1Pm. Administrative hours are M-F 8am-4:00pm in Ste 219 972-596-0253.)

Meet Sandra Dunnigan

For the last 6 months our staff could not help but notice the friendship between Sandra Dunnigan(in black), and Jeanette Jenkins,(seated in the white T-shirt.) For months they would ride the bus together from Garland to Plano to receive groceries from our Pantry. Torrential rains, thunder, and even lighting would not stop these women from showing up! Jeantte with her walker & basket, and Sandra with her back pack. They always came as a pair, until one day we noticed that Sandra started to come alone. She began to tell us that Jeanette was very sick, and had been admitted into the hospital for a while.(She was very sadden by her friends sickness and absence.)

Sandra continued to come, and soon, when her friend was released from the hospital asked us if she could start picking up food for her sick friend. She was very emotional on one particular visit because all she wanted to do was help. Sandra continued to give us updates on Jeanette, and one day we looked up and her and Jeanette were together again! But this time Jeanette was in a wheel chair. Sandra was with her, not because she was here to receive, but because she wanted to help her friend. (Due to Jeannette's absences they were now on opposite weeks to receive food) But instead of staying home, like today, Sandra made the sacrifice again to catch a bus, with her disabled friend from Garland to Plano to help her pick up her groceries, and get them home. Now that's a true friend, and the power of giving back.

We love our Job, Thanks to all of you who make this possible!

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