Sharing Life Community Outreach

Who Can Visit?

Sharing Life Community Outreach serves the greater South East Dallas area, including the towns of Mesquite, Garland, Sunnyvale, Rowlett, Rockwall, Forney, and surrounding areas. There are no zip code restrictions for the food pantry, so anyone in the area is welcome to come. If you live in Balch Springs, please visit the Opal J. Smith Food Pantry instead, which is a separate location for Balch Springs residents only.

Walk-ins are welcome on Tuesdays from 5:00–7:00 PM. For all other weekday visits (Monday through Thursday, 9:00 AM–3:00 PM), an appointment is required. Please call +1 972-285-5819 to schedule. Friday mornings from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM are reserved for seniors ages 60 and up.

For online orders, pickup is available on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM.

Staff can assist with scheduling future visits if you'd like to plan ahead.

How Often You Can Visit?

You can visit and shop the food pantry once every two weeks.

Good to Know

Each household will leave with enough food for 2 full weeks. If you come on the wrong day or at a time when the pantry isn't fully stocked, staff will make an emergency bag of groceries to get you through until the next opening. If you plan to order online, keep in mind that pickup slots are usually available at least 2 weeks out, so walking in or calling to book a visit are good options if you need food sooner It's also a good idea to arrive early, as the pantry operates on a first-come, first-served basis for walk-ins and popular items can go quickly.

Food & Essentials

The pantry offers a large variety of food, including meats and produce. Reviewers have mentioned receiving bread, fruits, vegetables, salad, milk, cheese, and eggs. Some canned vegetables are low-sodium or no-salt varieties. The pantry is well-stocked with different kinds of items for you to choose from.

In addition to food, the pantry also offers diapers and formula, toiletries, household items, and pet food, though selection of non-food essentials may vary from week to week based on availability.

How to Pick Up

Sharing Life offers two ways to get your food. The first is the indoor pantry, which is set up like a grocery store where you take a cart and go through the aisles selecting the items you want. This is called a client-choice pantry. Your food cart is weighed when you finish selecting. The second option is the ePantry, an online ordering service where you browse and choose your groceries on the website, then pick a date and time for pickup. When you arrive, you park at Sharing Life and the team brings your selected items directly to your vehicle for a smooth, contact-free pickup. For help with ePantry, email Amanda@Sharing.Life. You can shop the ePantry at www.orderahead.org/pantries/289.

Additional Support

When you shop the food pantry, you also have the option to shop the clothing closet. The clothing closet is available at no cost and includes clothes, shoes, and other items for the whole family. DoorDash delivery is also available for some clients through the ePantry service.

Beyond food and clothing, Sharing Life provides a wide range of additional services:

• Emergency financial assistance for utilities, rent, and mortgage payments for residents in select zip codes across Mesquite, Garland, Sunnyvale, Rowlett, Rockwall, and Forney.
• Financial Empowerment Center offering educational programs, interview skills, tax preparation, credit and financial classes, job placement, and GED testing.
• SNAP and TANF assistance, helping people apply for benefits.
• W.A.R.M. Program (Weather Activated Relief for Mesquite) providing temporary hotel stays, warm meals, clothing, and essentials during extreme cold.
• Seasonal programs including Thanksgiving basket giveaways, a Christmas Faire with toys and gifts for children, the Nourish2Flourish program providing weekly bags of breakfast, lunch, and snack items for school-age children during breaks, and a Back-to-School Fair with backpacks and school supplies in partnership with Mesquite ISD.
• Job training, including an OSHA-compliant forklift certification program.
• Referrals to other agencies and resources.

You can reach Sharing Life by phone at 972-285-5819 or by email at Info@Sharing.Life.

Facilities

When you visit the food pantry, you also have access to the clothing closet, where you can shop for clothes and shoes at no cost. There is also a TV room for children while families wait.

Ways to Give

Sharing Life accepts monetary donations and in-kind donations of food, clothing, and toys. You can give online at the donation page or mail a check to 3795 W. Emporium Circle, Mesquite, TX 75150. In-kind donations can be dropped off at the same address Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Large furniture items cannot be stored at this time, but all other donations are appreciated. You can also shop the Sharing Life wish list to have needed items like diapers shipped directly to the organization. If you're interested in hosting a food, diaper, or clothing drive, email the Client Services Manager, Raven Carr, to get started. For more information, visit sharing.life/donate/.

How to Join the Team?

Sharing Life always welcomes volunteers, both individuals and groups. Volunteer shifts run every weekday: morning shifts from 8:30 AM to 12:30 PM, afternoon shifts from 12:30 PM to 4:30 PM, Tuesday evening shifts from 4:00 PM to 7:30 PM, and occasional Saturday opportunities that require advance sign-up. Anyone under 18 must have a parent or guardian signature on the volunteer application, and anyone 15 or younger must be accompanied by a parent or guardian during their shift. Closed-toe shoes are required if you volunteer in the food pantry or warehouse.

To get started, fill out the volunteer application in person at 3795 W. Emporium Circle, Mesquite, TX 75150, or sign up online at sharing-life-community-outreach.volunteerlocal.com/volunteer/. For questions, email Volunteer@Sharing.Life.