Story information and photos provided by Rev. Candice Parry, pastor of First United Methodist Church of Carrizo Springs.

First United Methodist Church of Carrizo Springs is helping address food insecurity in Dimmit County through its involvement with the Dimmit Wellness Coalition (DWC), also known as the Dimmit Wellness Project (DWP).

The project operates a community food pantry that provides food assistance to local families through distributions held twice a month. During a recent distribution, the pantry served 199 families, reaching a total of 650 individuals, including 391 adults and 259 children.

For many families throughout Dimmit County, the food pantry has become an important resource for accessing essential groceries and household support.

How the Ministry Began

Four years ago, Methodist Healthcare Ministries approached First United Methodist Church of Carrizo Springs about participating in a grant process called Prosperemos Juntos/Thriving Together.

Rev. Candice Parry, who was a new pastor at the time, shared that she did not initially understand the significance of the work being presented. Together with the Texas AgriLife Extension office, Macedonia Baptist Mission, the only historically African American church in the community, and community members, First UMC helped form the Dimmit Wellness Coalition.

The coalition became a DBA (doing business as) of First UMC and began its work after receiving the grant. The church served as the facilitator for the project and continues to play an active role in the ministry today.

The DWC offices and a free clothing closet are housed in the church's offices, while the physical food pantry is located behind Macedonia Baptist Church.

Providing Food for Families in Need

The Dimmit Wellness Project holds pop-up food distributions twice a month that are open to the entire Dimmit County community.

During these distributions, families receive essential food items, including meat, deli products, bread and other available groceries. The distributions help individuals and families who may be experiencing financial difficulties, struggling to afford groceries or facing other challenges that make it difficult to keep food on the table.

In addition to the twice-monthly pop-up distributions, the project provides food during the third week of each month to families who qualify for its Adopted Family Program and The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP).

These programs provide additional support to eligible families who need assistance putting food on the table.

In rural Dimmit County, resources are limited. According to Pastor Parry, 41.1% of the county's population of 7,832 lives below the poverty line.

The Dimmit Wellness Project is also the only non-county-funded food pantry in Dimmit County, according to Parry.

Although previous distribution totals are not available for an exact comparison, the project continues to serve hundreds of individuals at a time and monitors the number of families seeking assistance to better understand the community's needs.

Community Partnerships Make the Work Possible

The Dimmit Wellness Project works with the South Texas Food Bank in Laredo, which allows the pantry to purchase food at reduced prices. This partnership helps the project stretch its resources and provide more food to families throughout Dimmit County.

Through the South Texas Food Bank, the project was also connected with the local H-E-B, which now provides daily food donations. The pantry also receives donations from the local Dollar General.

Funding and community donations are essential to keeping the pantry operating. Financial contributions allow the project to purchase additional food through the South Texas Food Bank and continue providing assistance to families in need.

Three DWP staff members work daily to pick up donations, prepare food, clean and organize the pantry. The coalition also participates in community events and connects residents with other resources and services.

The Impact Beyond Food Assistance

In addition to providing food, the Dimmit Wellness Project helps connect residents with health and wellness resources, educational opportunities and other forms of community assistance.

The project has helped provide healthcare events, school supplies, assistance with medical travel and other services for individuals and families in need. For those receiving assistance, the impact is personal.

Lori Martinez, whose family has benefited from the project's Adopted Family Program, shared how the food assistance has helped relieve some of the financial pressure her family is experiencing.

"The Adopted Family Box has helped me and my family not worry about how we're gonna be eating for that month," Martinez said. She explained that the program has helped her family while they struggle financially and navigate rising living costs.

"It has really lifted a weight off of our shoulders," she shared. Martinez also recommended the food pantry to her son after he lost his job. Although he found another job before needing assistance, she was grateful that the resource was available.

"I'm really glad that this program is available to a lot of us families who are struggling right now," Martinez said.

Dimmit County Judge Martha Ponce also shared the impact the project has had on the community.

"Dimmit Wellness Project means so many things to me, but most importantly, it means an amazing opportunity for our community to access resources that were not previously available," Ponce said.

Ponce shared that the project has also helped her become a better leader by giving her opportunities to lend a helping hand to community members through its events.

She noted that DWP has provided many of her family members and friends with access to food and household supplies they otherwise would not have been able to afford.

"This project has been truly God sent for many, I can attest to that!" Ponce shared.

She also expressed concern about what losing the project would mean for the community, including the loss of vital services and resources that residents rely on. Beyond those tangible needs, Ponce believes losing the project could also affect community morale, trust and the sense of hope it has helped create.

Chris Ibarra, who works with the project's finances, shared similar concerns about the importance of DWP's services.

"DWP helps the community connect to health wellness and many resources," Ibarra said.

He explained that the project helps promote healthier families by connecting residents with local organizations that provide food and education. Through his involvement, Ibarra has also become more aware of the needs throughout Dimmit County.

"DWP has helped me realize the need in our community," he shared. Ibarra noted that the project has helped residents through healthcare events, school supplies, food distributions, medical travel assistance and other services.

He emphasized that losing the project would significantly affect Dimmit County, particularly its most vulnerable residents.

"Residents would have a harder time finding assistance and resources like food. Vulnerable residents would be affected the most," Ibarra said.

Funding Needs and Future Plans

As 2026 comes to a close, the Dimmit Wellness Project faces an important challenge: it currently has no funding secured for 2027. Financial support is the project's greatest need as it works to continue providing food and other resources to families throughout Dimmit County.

Pastor Parry expressed concern about what losing the project would mean for the community, especially considering the work of its three staff members and the many ways the coalition is involved in local events and services.

The project also has plans for a potential new location. First UMC has an unfinished building on its church grounds that could eventually house the food pantry, clothing closet, DWC offices and Wesley Nurse in one location.

Moving the pantry to this building would allow the project to transition from its current drive-through model to a client-choice pantry. Additional support would be needed to make this vision a reality.

Pastor Parry shared that she welcomes assistance in any form, including help with reorganizing the project or finding ways to better serve the community.

How to Support the Dimmit Wellness Project

The Dimmit Wellness Project continues to serve families throughout Dimmit County through its twice-monthly food distributions, Adopted Family Program and TEFAP distributions.

With the support of donors, community partners and churches, the project hopes to continue providing food and essential resources to families who need assistance.

Churches and individuals throughout the Rio Texas Conference who would like to support this ministry can make financial contributions through the project's Givebutter donation page.

donate to the dimmit wellness project