Agency receives 150 donations totaling $25,000 for relocation to unnamed site, but still needs money to meet increased holiday demand

Bret Camp

The Resource Center of Dallas has raised the funds necessary to move its  AIDS food pantry, but the center is still seeking contributions to meet increased holiday demand for food.

Resource Center officials announced Monday, Dec. 1 they had raised the $25,000 in unbudgeted costs needed to relocate the pantry from its home of 20 years on Cedar Springs Road, behind Crossroads Market. RCD officials had announced Nov. 20 that the property owner wouldn’t be renewing the lease for the pantry at the end of 2008 due to renovations that are planned for the building. 

In response to subsequent articles in Dallas Voice and The Dallas Morning News, as well as a fundraising mailer, RCD received about 150 individual contributions totaling $25,000 over three weeks, according to spokesman Rafael McDonnell. “I think this is a testament to the broad support that we have not only within the GLBT community, but among our allies as well,” McDonnell said.

Bret Camp, an associate executive director for the Resource Center who’s over the food pantry, said he wasn’t surprised by the response. But Camp added, “I’m always impressed and pleased with the generosity of the community when we have a big need arise like this.”

McDonnell and Camp said this week that the Resource Center had narrowed its search for a new pantry site to two locations, both in Oak Lawn and easily accessible to public transportation, on which many clients rely. They said they hoped to announce the new site soon.

“I think that with this move, we’re going to be able to have an even better food pantry than we do now,” Camp said. “As it stands now, we’re on track to be in the new pantry by the end of January.”

The owner of the building currently occupied by the pantry, RSA partners, has agreed to extend the Resource Center’s lease by one month to allow time for the move. According to Harry B. Lucas Companies, which manages the property for the owner, the rear wall of the pantry is deteriorating and must be replaced.

RSA also owns and plans to renovate the building that housed Crossroads Market, which closed Nov. 30 to make way for the project. The owner of Crossroads Market, Don Sheets, has said it is doubtful he will reopen in the same location after the project is complete.

McDonnell said in addition to the $25,000 in relocation costs, the Resource Center has raised more than $32,000 of the $50,000 needed to cover the center’s holiday food needs. The total includes an anonymous pledge of $25,000 from a Dallas philanthropist, he said.

In addition to monetary donations, the center has received several offers to assist with the actual move and setup of the new pantry. Officials are in the process of obtaining estimates for finishing out a new site, as well as replacement costs for the pantry’s 19-year-old commercial refrigerator/freezer unit, which won’t be making the trip. “If anybody out there knows where we can get a deal on a refrigerator/freezer, please contact us,” McDonnell said.

In addition to donations, officials said the Resource Center is in need of canned goods to meet its holiday food needs, including canned meats such as tuna, chicken, chili and Spam; canned soups and Ramen noodles; canned vegetables and fruits; boxed cereal; dry staples such as rice, beans and pasta; juice; and condiments such as ketchup, mayonnaise, mustard, salt and sugar.
Dropoff hours are from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays; and from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.

For more information, go to www.rcdallas.org.

This article appeared in the Dallas Voice print edition December 5, 2008.