Choice Pantry
The food pantry is a client choice pantry where clients can shop once a month for items they need. It is arranged like a grocery store — allowing clients to choose 21-24 meals worth of foods they enjoy cooking and serving to their families.
In addition to food, Outreach provides essential household and hygiene items such as diapers, baby formula, toothbrushes and toothpaste, pet food, toilet paper, paper towels, and other durable goods.
Our Full-Shop Process
The pantry is much like a grocery store but free:
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Guests are welcomed and guided through the pantry to select items they need
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Shoppers can choose fresh produce, meats & breads, dairy, eggs, shelf-stable foods, personal care products and household essentials
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Staff and volunteers are available to assist, answer questions and help carry items if needed
A Household Full-Shop provides:
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21–24 meals each month
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EATS (weekly while supplies last): 4-5 additional meals per week totaling up to 41–48 meals each month.
Each meal represents enough food for the entire household, so the amount scales with the size of each family.
Prefer to stay in your car?
If you prefer not to come inside or have mobility concerns, Outreach offers a "curbside" service. Simply let us know when you arrive and our team will bring your full shop out to you.
Explore Other Food Assistance
EATS provides families with 4–5 ready-to-cook meals each week (while supplies last). Each box combines USDA TEFAP (The Emergency Food Assistance Program) foods, Outreach-provided ingredients and spices, and step-by-step recipe cards—making it easier for families to prepare healthy, home-cooked meals.
EATS
(Edible. Available. Time-Saving.)
Every week, volunteers pack and deliver 300+ food bags to all Polk County schools. These bags discreetly reach students who may have food insecurity over the weekend, giving them food when they are not at school. Backpack Snacks is sustained by community donations, volunteers and Outreach’s food pantry support.
Backpack Snacks
Outreach partners with the Polk County Senior Center and Polk County Meals on Wheels to support home-bound seniors. Each month, we package 150 food packages tailored for seniors, filled with fresh fruits, vegetables, sweet treats and the occasional puzzle book or brainteaser. These are delivered by Meals on Wheels volunteers, along with information about Outreach’s services.
Meals on Wheels
How You Can Help
Our Food Assistance Programs depend on the generosity of our community. There are two powerful ways you can make a difference:
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Gift Food: Donate items from our Food Pantry Wish-list to keep shelves stocked with what families need most at Outreach (134 White Drive, Columbus, NC 28722)
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Gift Funds: A financial gift to our Food Pantry fund stretches every dollar, helping us purchase fresh and shelf-stable foods, as well as essential household and hygiene products.
Every donation — no matter the size — is appreciated and ensures we are able to continue our mission to provide food & shelter to Polk County individuals and families in need. Whether it’s a can of soup, a box of diapers or a financial contribution, your support ensures that no neighbor goes hungry.
