Home Depot employees deliver pallets of boxed cereal to Amazing Grace Food Pantry. Courtesy Amazing Grace Food Pantry

Wylie pantry celebrates 20 years of feeding neighbors

What began in 2006 as a small community service effort has grown into a lifeline for thousands across Collin and Rockwall counties. 

Amazing Grace Food Pantry marked its 20th anniversary Friday, Feb. 27, celebrating two decades of service and a record-breaking year in which more than 3.3 million pounds of food — nearly 2.9 million meals — were distributed. 

The milestone was shared with volunteers, community leaders and supporters who have helped the north Wylie nonprofit grow from a small outreach effort into one of Collin County’s largest volunteer-run food distribution programs.

About 145 people attended the catered anniversary celebration held at the Commons at The Cross Church in Wylie. Among those present were founder Mike Ellis and his wife Karen, AGFP pantry director, along with Wylie Mayor Matthew Porter, Tracy Cline, executive director of the CUTX Charitable Foundation, board members, volunteers and community supporters.

Originally serving just eight families, the effort has grown dramatically over the past 20 years. In 2025 alone, Amazing Grace Food Pantry recorded 33,569 client visits, serving 4,273 families and providing food to more than 19,000 individuals. 

Karen Ellis said the pantry’s growth has been remarkable — something she never imagined when the pantry began.

“Honestly, it feels like three years, not twenty,” said Ellis. “Time moves quickly when you’re answering a calling. I’ve seen God work in ways I never could have planned or accomplished on my own. I stand amazed at the miracles we’ve witnessed over these two decades.”

The pantry’s main biweekly food distribution program now provides more than 700 families with over 100 pounds of food per visit. About 30% of the pantry’s distribution consists of fresh produce.

According to the North Texas Food Bank, AGFP is the second-largest food distributor among the 38 pantries operating in Collin County and the largest organization run entirely by volunteers. 

“I’m most proud of our volunteers,” Ellis said. “Their dedication never wavers, even on our busiest days. They care deeply about the people we serve and about one another. Over time those relationships have created something special.”

Additional programs extend the pantry’s reach throughout the community.

The Food 4 Kids program, led by Kim Johnson, packs and delivers 250 weekend backpacks of food to students across 21 Wylie schools each week, distributing about 25,000 bags annually.

The pantry also operates a People and Nutrition (PAN) program that provides supplemental food to qualified seniors monthly, the only program of its kind among Collin County pantries.

Through its Retail Rescue program, a team of eight drivers and helpers collect food from 12 grocery stores, recovering an average of 30,000 pounds of food each week that might otherwise go to waste. 

Home delivery services, in partnership with St. Vincent de Paul volunteers, also ensure that homebound residents receive needed food assistance.

Beyond its core programs, the pantry partners with local organizations to distribute produce, hygiene items and infant supplies, including diapers and formula for Hope Bridge Pregnancy Center and food support for other ministries and outreach groups.

Over the years, the organization has faced challenges along the way.

Ellis recalled one of the most difficult periods, between 2015 and 2018, when a church on the pantry property that served as its primary funding source burned down.

“Our pantry building survived, but the cleanup costs were quoted at $60,000 to $80,000, far beyond our reach,” she said. “My husband Mike, our founder, said, ‘Let’s keep giving out food until we run out.’ Within a year our community stepped in, and by 2018 we had built a new facility. What felt like the end became a new beginning.”

Today the pantry continues to expand its operations and modernize its facilities. Recent improvements include a new volunteer parking lot, upgraded technology systems for client tracking and staging, and monitoring systems for refrigeration and freezer units.

Looking ahead, pantry leaders are planning a new produce pavilion designed to double the amount of fresh fruits and vegetables distributed each month, increasing capacity from about 9,000 pounds to 18,000 pounds.

Ellis said the pantry’s future mission will continue to depend on volunteers and community support, especially as demand continues to grow.

“I’m concerned that more families will need assistance due to stagnant wages, job loss and the rising cost of living,” she said. “At the same time, donation levels have softened as many households feel financial pressure themselves.”

Even small contributions — $10 per month — can help feed a family, said Ellis.

“If every household in Collin and Rockwall counties gave just $1 a month, the impact would be transformational.”

“Amazing Grace isn’t just a distribution site. It’s a pantry family, built on relationships between volunteers and neighbors.”

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