HANDS ON HUNGER PANTRY SPOTLIGHT: FLIPPER TEMPLE AME CHURCH
We’re excited to spotlight Hands On Hunger’s pantry: Flipper Temple AME Church Food Pantry
Learn more about Flipper Temple AME Church Food Pantry below!
Tell us about why you applied to the Hands On Hunger Program and what you're goals are for the next two years
We applied to the Hands On Hunger Program to strengthen our capacity to serve families experiencing food insecurity in our community. As our outreach continues to grow, we want to ensure we have the tools, training, and support needed to operate efficiently and sustainably. Over the next two years, our goals include expanding our food distribution, improving our data tracking and reporting, increasing volunteer engagement, and building stronger partnerships that allow us to serve more households with dignity and consistency.
Tell us about your organization - what's your mission, and how does it impact our community?
The mission of the Flipper Temple AME Church Food Pantry is to provide nutritious food, compassion, and hope to individuals and families facing food insecurity. We serve as a bridge for those experiencing hardship, ensuring they have access to essential resources during difficult seasons. Our impact reaches children, seniors, working families, and individuals who rely on us for stability. Through our pantry and Pop-Up Café, we offer both food and fellowship, creating a welcoming environment where people feel seen, supported, and valued.
What's the history of your organization? How and why did it get started?
The Flipper Temple AME Church Food Pantry began as a small response to our community’s growing needs. As more families faced financial hardship and food insecurity, our church saw the need for a consistent, organized outreach program. Today, the pantry is a structured, volunteer-powered ministry serving hundreds of households each month. Its history is rooted in compassion, respect, and a commitment to service.
How do volunteers support your mission? What impact do they have on your work? What is possible through the support of volunteers that would not be possible otherwise?
Volunteers are the heart of our mission. They prepare food bags, assist with distribution, greet clients, organize inventory, support data entry, and help maintain a clean and organized workspace. Their presence allows us to operate smoothly and serve families with care and dignity. Without volunteers, our pantry simply could not function at the scale it does. Their commitment makes it possible to distribute thousands of pounds of food each month and provide a warm, welcoming environment for every client who walks through our doors.
What community problem is your organization trying to solve? Can you tell us more about the issue?
We are working to address food insecurity — a persistent challenge affecting families, seniors, children and unhoused individuals in our community. Many households and individuals struggle to afford food due to rising costs, limited income/lack of any income, or unexpected hardships. Food insecurity impacts health, stability, and overall well-being. By providing reliable access to nutritious food, we help reduce stress, support healthier families, support unhoused individuals, and strengthen the fabric of our community.
Can you share some impact stats or comments about the work being done by your organization? For example, how many meals/families/individuals do you serve monthly?
In July, the Flipper Temple Food Pantry continued its mission of supporting families across our community. Thanks to the Atlanta Community Food Bank, sponsors, dedicated volunteers and generous donors, we provided essential food resources to households and unhoused individuals facing real need.
Who We Served Households Served: 532
Total Persons Served: 1,536
Children Served: 617
Senior Citizens Served: 455
Food Distributed Total Pounds of Food Distributed: 7,936
These numbers reflect not just meals, but moments of relief, stability, and hope for families and individuals navigating difficult times.
What kind of programming do you offer the community?
Weekly Services and Support: We provide food distribution twice a week. On Wednesdays from 9:30AM to 2:30PM. On Saturdays from 10:00 AM to 12:00 noon and our Pop-Up Café provides a hot meal for our clients. Clothing assistance is available biweekly on Wednesdays. We also support clients through the Oasis Insight database and offer seasonal outreach programs.
What types of projects do you offer? Tell us about a few different offerings. Do you have monthly or weekly recurring opportunities? How about your seasonal or annual events?
Our primary recurring opportunities include weekly pantry distribution and food bag preparation. Volunteers assist with sorting donations, assembling family bags, organizing inventory, and supporting client intake. Seasonally, we host special outreach events such as holiday food distributions, and community fellowship meals.
Tell us about what it's like to serve with your organization. How many volunteers do you host every month?
Serving with the Flipper Temple Food Pantry is warm, organized, and community-centered. Volunteers work together in a supportive environment where teamwork and compassion guide every task. We typically host 80–100 volunteers each month, depending on distribution days and special events.
Tell us about how volunteers can jump in and get involved. How can they best support you?
Volunteers can get involved by signing up for Wednesday or Saturday service days, assisting with food bag preparation, helping with distribution, or supporting administrative tasks such as data entry. The best way to support us is through consistent volunteer participation, spreading awareness, and helping us maintain a welcoming environment for every client we serve.
Flipper Temple AME Church