Augsburg Food Pantry is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization serving individuals and families facing food insecurity in the Arkansas River Valley. Our purpose is rooted in compassion, dignity, and community, and guided by our commitment to serve anyone in need. Established in 1995 as a ministry of Zion Lutheran Church, the pantry has grown from a small volunteer effort into a vital hunger-relief organization that distributes thousands of pounds of food each month to neighbors experiencing hardship.
Who We Are
The Augsburg Food Pantry exists to gather, organize, maintain, and distribute food to the less fortunate in our region. We actively seek support from individuals, businesses, farms, and community organizations to fulfill our mission. We provide services without regard to race, color, creed, sex, or national origin, ensuring that every individual is treated with dignity, respect, and compassion.
We are supported solely through donations, volunteers, and the mission of Zion Lutheran Church, and we have no paid staff. Our purpose and operations are rooted in faith, and our work is powered by community generosity and servant-hearted volunteers.
Our pantry operates under Article II of our bylaws, which defines our purpose as:
-Gathering, organizing, maintaining, and distributing food to the less fortunate.
-Soliciting the aid of individuals and community organizations to support that work.
-Providing services without discrimination to any person who comes seeking assistance.
How We Operate
We hold food distributions on the third Saturday of every month, and every distribution provides groceries at no cost to those in need in multiple counties across the River Valley. Families simply drive through, and volunteers load vehicles with healthy and essential food items.
We track the number of families who receive food each month, and in recent months, we have seen record levels of need. At one distribution, we served 641 families in a single day.
Our volunteer team routinely contributes hundreds of labor hours each month to sort, organize, prepare, and distribute food. Our board minutes show 264 volunteer hours for a single month, reflecting the level of commitment and the amount of work required to move food to families efficiently.
Leadership & Accountability
The pantry is governed by a Board of Directors, consisting of elected officers including President, Secretary, and Treasurer, along with additional board members representing the community. The pantry operates under the supervision of appointed managers who oversee food distribution, volunteer coordination, and fundraising.
We are incorporated as a nonprofit in the State of Arkansas and are recognized by the IRS as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofit.
The building, contents, and property are owned by Zion Lutheran Church, and the pantry functions as a faith-based community ministry that provides physical support without religious requirement or obligation.
What We Provide
Every family who arrives on distribution day receives a generous supply of groceries, which may include:
-Shelf-stable pantry staples (rice, beans, pasta, canned vegetables, peanut butter)
-Frozen proteins (chicken, beef, pork, or other packaged meats when available)
-Fresh produce from local partners and the regional food bank when funds allow
Our partnership with the Arkansas Foodbank and Tyson Foods (through employee volunteer connections) enables us to stretch every donated dollar into significantly more food compared to retail pricing.
The Impact of Your Donation
Because we are entirely donation-supported and volunteer-operated, 100% of every financial contribution directly supports food distribution. With monthly operating expenses of $5,410, your support makes an immediate and measurable difference in the number of families we can serve.
Based on our current operating budget and distribution costs:
A $100 monthly donation helps feed over 156 families in need in a year.
A $2,500 one-time donation feeds over 330 families.
We continually track and analyze donation impact to ensure financial transparency and to demonstrate how even small recurring gifts create sustainable change in our community.
Why Our Work Matters
Food insecurity affects working families, seniors, veterans, people with disabilities, and single parents. Many of the people we serve are employed but earn wages that do not keep pace with rising prices for housing, utilities, or groceries. Others are facing unexpected life events such as illness, job loss, or emergencies.
Hunger does not always look like what people imagine.
Often, hunger looks like:
A parent skipping meals so their children have enough.
A senior citizen choosing between groceries and medication.
A family going through a temporary hardship but needing support to get back on their feet.
Each vehicle that drives through distribution day represents a real family, a real story, and a real need.
What Makes Augsburg Food Pantry Different
100% donation-funded — no paid staff, no administrative salaries.
100% volunteer-operated — our board, managers, and distribution teams all serve without compensation.
Dignity-first service model — we load vehicles so families maintain privacy and dignity.
Faith-based, not faith-required — we serve because of our faith, not to impose it.
Our volunteers express that our monthly distribution days are more than logistics — they are acts of compassion and community.
This guides our actions, influences our operations, and reminds us that food distribution is not just a service — it is an expression of love and care for our neighbors.
Long-Term Vision
Our goals for the future include:
-Increasing the amount of food available per family.
-Expanding cold storage and freezer capacity to accept more fresh and frozen donations.
-Creating a sustainable monthly sponsorship program to fund recurring needs.
-Strengthening partnerships with local farms, businesses, and civic organizations.
As we grow, we continue to operate with the same values that have guided us since 1995: serve people, preserve dignity, and nourish hope.
In Summary
Augsburg Food Pantry is a community-led, faith-driven hunger relief organization committed to ensuring that no family in our region goes without food. Every meal we distribute is possible because someone cared enough to give.
We are neighbors feeding neighbors, one family at a time.
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