This article was originally published in the summer 2025 issue of The Vincentian, the quarterly newsletter of the Congregation of the Mission Western Province.
Food pantry finds eager volunteers hungry for service
Dennis Furlong, 75, has volunteered at the Holy Trinity food pantry for about 30 years. He was baptized at the Dallas church and attended elementary school there. For him, volunteering at the pantry is about serving and connecting with others.
“This parish has always been open-armed and inviting to those in need,” he said. “We’ve got so many fabulous people here.”
Jenny Carol has volunteered for a little over a year. She lives across the street from the church and was looking for something after…
“I don’t use the dirty word of ‘retirement,’” she said.
Toby O’Brien started in April, having heard about it in the announcements, and has been there every week since.
Carleen Pieper started in September, having previously worked at a food pantry and soup kitchen in Seattle.
“This is my church, and this works out great,” she said.
Steve Tankersley, a retired physician, describes himself as the “world’s oldest acolyte,” serving Mass the last 15 years, straight out of RCIA. The food pantry is a continuation of that ministry, he said, and an opportunity for service.
Caroline Crutcher and her husband, Buzz, have come every Tuesday since joining the volunteers in September. Both in their 80s, they have been parishioners since the 1960s; Buzz attended elementary school at the parish.
“I like doing something to help people,” she said. “Helping the poor is big at Holy Trinity.”
Mary George (pictured right), Food Pantry Coordinator at Holy Trinity since mid-2024, said the pantry has about 40 volunteers, who come during distribution, three hours each on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. Customers come through the pantry with shopping carts as volunteers help them make selections.
“We serve about 90 clients in a given week,” Mary said. “Most come in monthly; seniors come every two weeks. We see a lot of repeat customers, which helps build community. You see how grateful people are.”
Mary, who recently converted to Catholicism, found out about the job through her RCIA classes. She said she appreciates the service orientation of the parish.
“I love doing this,” she said. “The Vincentian identity is very present. Sometimes, we are able to give them more than food. We will see refugees and immigrants and can direct them to other services. It feels good; you see how grateful people are.”
Furlong, who was a successful business owner before selling it in 1998, agrees.
“Don’t resist the feeling to do something for someone, because those feelings are coming straight from Christ,” he said. “We can share God’s love with everyone if we just open our hearts.”