Food Pantry

The Free Fruit and Vegetable Food Pantry is open most Wednesdays from 3:30 to 5:30 pm while supplies last in the Western Parking Lot (enter the corner of 4th Street and Clay Avenue). Call the Church Office at (785) 233-4241 for holiday and weather-related closures. The Church reserves the right to change or cancel the program as needed during an emergency. The Food Pantry reserves the right to refuse service to any person for abusive, aggressive, disruptive, disrespectful, or threatening behavior.

CLOSED on or near certain holidays (such as New Year’s Day, the 4th of July, the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, and Christmas), for inclement weather, and when Harvesters Community Food Network is unable to make deliveries.

UPCOMING SCHEDULE:

• Wednesday, NOVEMBER 02, 2022 @ 3:30-5:30 pm – OPEN
• Wednesday, NOVEMBER 09, 2022 @ 3:30-5:30 pm – OPEN
• Wednesday, NOVEMBER 16, 2022 @ 3:30-5:30 pm – OPEN
• Wednesday, NOVEMBER 23, 2022 @ 3:30-5:30 pm – OPEN
• Wednesday, NOVEMBER 30, 2022 @ 3:30-5:30 pm – OPEN

• Wednesday, DECEMBER 07, 2022 @ 3:30-5:30 pm – OPEN
• Wednesday, DECEMBER 14, 2022 @ 3:30-5:30 pm – OPEN
• Wednesday, DECEMBER 21, 2022 @ 3:30-5:30 pm – OPEN
• Wednesday, DECEMBER 28, 2022 @ CLOSED – Winter Holiday (no food deliveries)

PROGRAM ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:

IDENTIFICATION REQUIRED EVERY VISIT: Clients must provide a valid, government-issued PHOTO I.D. with a current address (including apartment number, if applicable) printed on the document. Clients without identification must have prior permission from the Program Supervisor. Homeless persons are welcome but must register under the last address used to receive US postal service mail.

ANTI-DISCRIMINATION POLICY – The Church respect and honors all people, regardless of age, color, creed, ethnicity, gender expression, marital status, military obligations, national origin (ancestry), physical appearance (height, weight, etc.), physical or mental ability (handicap), race, religion (or no religious beliefs), sex, sexual orientation, or veteran status. The Church does not discriminate in the distribution of goods and social services. If you believe you have experienced discrimination, speak with a program supervisor, or call the Minister at (785) 233-4241.

CLIENT-TRACK – The Food Pantry does not participate in the Client-Track program in Topeka/Shawnee Co.

CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) MOBILE SITE:  The Fruit & Vegetable Food Pantry will comply with all federal, state, county, and local regulations and mandates to mitigate the spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) and other communicable diseases. The Pantry will operate as a MOBILE FOOD PANTRY beginning March 2020 until further notice. Find accurate and updated information about COVID-19 and other health emergencies at the Shawnee County Health Department (https://www.snco.us/hd) or the US Center for Disease Control and Prevention (https://www.cdc.gov).

CONDUCT – The Food Pantry reserves the right to refuse service to persons who violate the community rules for good conduct (e.g., abusive or threatening language, cutting lines, lying, cursing, or using foul language, etc.).

DELIVERIES – The Food Pantry cannot make deliveries or provide transportation. Persons are encouraged to bike, carpool, walk, use public transportation (https://www.topekametro.org), or use other modes of transport.

DISTRIBUTION LINE – Line-Up on 4th STREET ONLY. Do NOT use Fillmore, Western, or any side street. Be a good citizen and neighbor! Do NOT cut into the line or jump places. Enter Western PARKING LOT from 4th and CLAY Streets. Do not park or exit your vehicle.  Violators will be warned and required to return to the end of the line. Repeat offenders will be banned from the program.

DISTRIBUTION – FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED – Food is distributed freely on a first-come, first-served basis while supplies last.

HOUSEHOLDS – One household per address or property printed on government-issued identification. All individuals, regardless of age or familial relationship, residing at a single address or property are considered one household unless the property is subdivided (e.g., multi-family structure) by the owner as reported to the City of Topeka.

PRESENCE – Clients must be present to receive food. In emergency situations, clients may pick up food for a disabled family member or neighbor (a maximum of two families) ONLY if the client has prior written permission and shows a proper PHOTO ID for all clients.

RESIDENCY – Clients must reside in the Topeka area (zip code 66601-66619) with the intent to make the City of Topeka their permanent home.

SIGN-IN – Clients must print their name and report the number of residents in the household, regardless of age or familial relationships on a form provided by Harvesters Community Food Network.

REGISTER – Clients must report the number of residents in the household, regardless of age or familial relationships, on the form provided by Harvesters Community Food Network.

WEEKLY (HEBDOMADAL) – Clients are limited to receiving one distribution per week.

WEATHER – The Food Pantry may be canceled, postponed, relocated, and/or rescheduled in response to inclement weather and/or emergencies without prior notification or publication. Call the Church Office at (785) 233-4241 for holiday and weather-related closures. 

UPDATED – The eligibility requirements, policies, and programs may be changed, modified, updated, and/or canceled at any time without prior notification or publication.

*All food is available at no cost.

FOOD PANTRY YEARLY IMPACT REPORT: The Free Fruit & Vegetable Food Pantry partners with Harvesters Community Food Network to “feed hungry people today and work to end hunger tomorrow.” Together, we have freely served:

This means the average family of four in Shawnee County who regularly came to the Fruit & Vegetable Food Pantry received thirty-eight pounds of free food in 2021. The Food Pantry will be open on Wednesdays in March, April, and May 2022.

Updated: November 29, 2022