Let us begin by thanking our Covenant Congregations, their members, and other individuals for their strong financial support – especially needed after a year of unprecedented and over-budget expenditures for direct client needs - notably rent and utility assistance and school supply and uniform costs.

We also extend our deepest gratitude to the 20 foundations and grantors, to UT Southwestern Medical Center, to TXU Energy and to others entities whose financial support allows NDSM to address specific or general client needs. And we are also unendingly grateful for the hands-on and non-cash contributions of our partners Texas A&M Baylor College of Dentistry, North Texas Food Bank, Foundation Communities (for tax assistance), and Lions Club (for vision check-ups and eyeglasses).

Total financial support allowed NDSM to exceed its $1,420,000 Revenue Budget by $271,000. Cash revenue plus the value of donated goods and services brought the total 2022 revenue to $5,452,124.

However, as grateful and happy as we are, our experience in 2022 and our projections for 2023 indicate 2023 will be a financially challenging year. Across the board last year, we exceeded our budgets for all our services. For example:

Working together – the Governing Board, Leadership Team, volunteers, donors and Congregations – we are committed to increasing our financial resources.

Here is a breakdown of whom we helped in 2022:

As noted previously, COVID forced the Pantry to switch to a Food Distribution program whereby all households, regardless of size and food preference, receive the same amount of the same items, plus diapers and wipes as appropriate. We also expanded our food service area to the entirety of Dallas and served 3 to 4 times more households than before COVID. In 2022, the Pantry served 67,369 individuals with food valued at $1,674,970. Our program and service area continue into 2023. In January we averaged 110 households served each day – up from about 80 each day in Fall 2022. Then in December to 100 or 100+. January numbers now average 110 households per day.

The Medical Clinic rebounded from COVID with enhanced services and the number of patients climbed.

There were 6,228 visits to the clinic by 2,430 unduplicated patients, 2% of whom were White, 3% Black, 91% Hispanic and 4% Other. Twenty-two percent of the 6,228 patient visits were for chronic disease management, 20% for immunizations and 14% for acute minor illness.

It is a pleasure to share that we hired our second paid employee, a Registered Dietician, so that diabetic, pre-diabetic and other chronic disease patients could receive the on-going nutrition education needed to help them reach an improved health status. The Pantry is now collaborating with the Registered Dietician by providing bags of suggested foods that the RD gives to patients to introduce them to nutritious food options.

The Dental Clinic treated 1,902 distinct patients for a total of 2,054 visits and services valued at $1,215,593. Seventy-four percent of the patients were Hispanic. 13% were Black, 9% were White and 4% were Other.

Other health services include our vision program with higher than ever numbers due to our new process of reminder notices to come for a screening exam and then a vision check-up with the volunteer optometrist. We continue to call this our happiest program.

A new service, Occupational Therapy, started on Friday afternoons with faculty and students from Texas Women’s University. Typically four to five patients are treated each Friday afternoon.

With the decision of the mental health clinician to take another position, in October, we entered into a relationship with Cannenta Center for the provision of a full-time clinician with whose performance we are pleased. There is increased inter-relationship among the Medical and Dental Clinics, the Emergency Aid Center and the Mental Health program.

After several semi-successful attempts to turn to pre COVID, the Clothes Closet is now open Mon, Tues, Thur & Fri from 12:30-3:30 and Wednesday from 10:30- 12:30 with at least one bilingual volunteer on staff each day. Volunteers are eager for more clothing donations; especially needed are shoes, coats and purses. Drop-off possible M-F from 8:00 -6:00. Cooperation between Clothes Closet and Pantry volunteers made it possible for many, many to receive clothing from the racks positioned outside during food distribution time when we were still figuring out how to reopen safely.

I know, this was a lengthy recap of Year 2022 and an introduction to Year 2023. But you care about the work of NDSM and the people who come to NDSM for help and, as such, it is important that we keep you informed. I am privileged and honored to work and share with you in service to those who need NDSM.

With much gratitude,

Judy Rorrie

Executive Director