Thursdays at the Dallas High Shoals Christian Ministry are bustling with fast-paced energy as devoted volunteers assemble food carts to distribute to approximately 350 families in our community who are in need of support.

Abby had a difficult childhood due to her family's constant moving. As a result, she never experienced stability.

The stories of those we serve and those who financially support Dallas Christian Ministry are connected through the community of God. At the end of 2023…

No matter what she tried, nothing seemed to work. Mona's marriage had fallen apart. The mortgage was more than she could afford.

Like many folks their age, *Ileana and Manny are caring parents and doting grandparents. Several years ago, when their daughter passed away unexpectedly, they became the primary caregivers for her four children

As a husband and father, Darius is the main provider in his family. While his job is

stable, his current pay isn’t keeping up with rising living costs.

As the years went by, Gail’s* health declined rapidly. In and out of remission for different types of cancer, she knew she needed to make plans and prepare for the end of her life.

Brandy and Joel worked hard for everything they have. Joel is a mechanic and Brandy worked in customer service once their children were grown. They still live in the two-bedroom trailer where they raised their children.

Mr. Jacob lived alone until his health began to decline. Robert, his son moved in with his father to care for him. “My father is proud,” Robert shared. “I didn’t realize he was going without food in the house for days or that he was so behind on his bills. He wouldn’t talk about it.”

Dylan and Madison* are the parents of three elementary-aged boys. They both work full-time jobs, but like 64% of Americans, their family lives paycheck to paycheck. When either of them has to miss a day of work due to illness in their family or when an unexpected expense arises like new tires, they occasionally need a little extra help to get by.

On an extremely hot, humid, and busy food distribution day at Dallas-High Shoals Christian Ministry, a young man was walking down the sidewalk past our parking lot. When one of our dedicated and faithful volunteers greeted the young man with a friendly "good morning," she noticed that he was sweaty, exhausted, somewhat downtrodden, and just might be hungry.

The only thing Lisa wanted to be when she was growing up was a mother. As a young adult she became a mom to a son, Adam, then to a daughter, Anna. Lisa loved being a mom to her children as they grew and became teenagers. Some traffic violations and 36 hours of court-ordered community service led Lisa to Dallas Christian Ministry.

Glen and Shelby are a special needs couple in their 70s. When they arrived at Dallas Christian Ministry, they were homeless and had no hope for their own future. They didn’t see an end in sight, and they didn’t realize they qualified for assistance.