Neighbor to Neighbor, Dot Foods’ annual food distribution program, is one of our biggest charitable initiatives to serve the communities that our employees call home. This year alone, we delivered $405,000 worth of food and necessities to 76 pantries near our 13 U.S. locations and our upcoming location at Manchester, Tennessee.
When we launched Neighbor to Neighbor in 2014, we set out to do food pantry donations differently. We could have donated whatever excess product we had in our warehouses, but that approach doesn’t always ensure that the items we deliver are what the pantries need. Why donate ten cases of peanut butter or cereal when they already have plenty? Instead, each pantry receives an order form, through which they can select $5,000 of available goods that are in demand in their communities.
Neighbor to Neighbor has never been more vital. Food pantries near all our locations shared that the inflation has created tremendous need. Supply chain challenges have also made it difficult for pantries to access food and necessities to serve their communities.
Dot employees across several areas of our business execute the Neighbor to Neighbor program from start to finish:
Members from each of our locations’ charitable committees reach out to local pantries to explain the program, send out order forms, and coordinate other details.
Replenishment employees determine the products available for donation.
Warehouse employees palletize the donated goods.
The Dot Transportation, Inc. (DTI) dispatch team schedules deliveries.
DTI drivers transport product.
Employees volunteer to unload product from our trucks and into the pantries.
Here are the 76 Neighbor to Neighbor beneficiaries by Dot location:
Food For Families
Laughlin Food Bank
Mohave Valley Food Pantry
The Salvation Army of Kingman
St. Vincent De Paul of Bullhead City
St. Vincent De Paul of Needles
Good Samaritan Training Center
Interfaith Ministries of Modesto - The Food Initiative
Modesto Gospel Mission
Oakdale Community Sharing Christian Center
St. Vincent de Paul of St. Anthony’s Catholic Church
“Recently our regular food donations have dropped off quite a bit and our food box size that we distribute reflects it. This $5,000 food grant will help keep smiles on people’s faces in our community and fill those boxes up over the top again!”
—David Cloxton, Good Samaritan Training Center
Action: Love Pantry
Alicia’s House
Faith Movers Church
New Lenox Township Food Pantry
“This city is lacking grocery stores, and Faith Movers Church has been able to help bridge the gap of resources for many homes. Faith Movers Church is looking to expand our outreach efforts by building an outreach and recreational center on its grounds within the next couple of years. This donation would help ensure that we are able to continually grow our food pantry.”
Colonial School District Food Pantry at Southern Elementary
Francis X Norton Center
Health Food Pantry at the Food Bank of Delaware
“Dot Foods and its employees are setting a great example. They work with community partners to ensure that their donations not only help drive away hunger but are also environmentally friendly.”
—Jay Muthukamatchi, Charity Crossing
Dyersburg Christian Center
First United Methodist Church Food Pantry
Reelfoot Rural Ministries
The Salvation Army of Dyer County
“The need for grocery assistance is increasing and availability of food items has been low. Dot Foods is a vital partner in our mission to offer nourishment to our neighbors.”
—Robert Craig, Reelfoot Rural Ministries
Evergreen True Vine
God’s Storehouse
Helping Hands
His Works Ministry Outreach & Food Bank
New Beginning Faith Temple Food Pantry
Southeast Georgia Community Projects
Community Council of Idaho - Burley
Filer Senior Haven
Hope for the Hungry Community Food Pantry
Open Hearts Food Pantry
Rock Creek Food Pantry
The Salvation Army of Twin Falls
“Without donations from Dot, our ability to help would significantly decrease and possibly close our doors.”
—Robyn Moss, Rock Creek Food Pantry
Circle U Help Center
The Corner Market (Union County School Market)
Fayette County Food Council
Gateway Hunger Relief Center
God’s Grain Bin
Winchester Area Churches and Community Food Pantry
“Dot Foods’ Neighbor to Neighbor program couldn't have come at a better time. The financial donation is wonderful, but actually being able to order the food is the real gift to our pantry.”
—Pam Ferguson, Winchester Area Churches and Community Food Pantry
Good Samaritan Manchester
Good Samaritan Tullahoma
The Storehouse Food Pantry
“One of our grandmothers who is on a fixed income was recently awarded custody of her three grandchildren because her daughter was unable to care for the children any longer. The grandmother tearfully told me that without the food provided by Good Samaritan—and Dot—she would not be able to feed her family. We will continue to use the donation from Dot to feed our community, from the oldest down to the newborns.”
“We are beyond excited and blessed to be receiving this donation this year …. In the past months we have seen a decline of the availability of food …. Our annual Christmas giveaway registration has already exceeded any number that we have ever provided for before and this donation will help us to be able to possibly use some of our funds in that program."
—Marsha Mayner, operator of the Outreach Community Center.
“Because we do not charge for any of our services, we rely on donations of all kinds to keep our doors open. $5,000 of food will go a long way in helping … our families to thrive and not just survive.”
—James Rosson, Food and Resource Center
Catholic Charities of Oswego
Rescue Mission of Utica
The Salvation Army of Oswego
The Salvation Army of Syracuse
Samaritan Center
Syracuse Northeast Community Center
“Dot’s employees are amazing and go the extra mile to deliver food that is needed in our community. In times where funding is being cut, this donation will help our efforts tremendously.”
—Captain Heather Odom, The Salvation Army of Oswego
East St. Louis Township
Gethsemane Food Pantry
Guardian Angel Settlement at Hosea House
The Salvation Army - Midland
Soup-N-Share Outreach Program
St. Vincent de Paul of St. Pius V Catholic Church
"Because of your help, we will be distributing 150 baskets for Thanksgiving and Christmas to needy families. Thank you, thank you, thank you Dot Foods."