Latter-day Saints deliver 35,000 pounds of food to Common Heart

Common Heart received about 35,000 pounds of shelf-stable food from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The donation arrives as the Union County nonprofit struggles to keep its pantry shelves stocked.

The delivery to Common Heart's Indian Trail headquarters is one of 250 truckloads the church is sending to food banks across all 50 states this year. The nationwide campaign marks the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, the Union County Weekly reported.

Keith Adams, executive director of Common Heart, said reduced supplies from The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) have made it harder to meet demand. The federal program provides government commodities that stock Common Heart's five weekly drive-through pantries in Monroe, Wingate, Waxhaw (two locations) and Stallings.

"This generous gift … will put food directly into the hands of thousands of our neighbors at a time when reduced TEFAP supplies have made it harder to keep our shelves stocked," Adams said.

The timing matters. Common Heart's Common Cupboard program delivers about a week's worth of groceries to more than 350 families each month, and the nonprofit also runs mobile pantries at eight locations throughout the year.

The church's America250 effort launched in November 2025 with five truckloads shipped from its Bishops' Central Storehouse in Salt Lake City, according to the church's official newsroom. The campaign reached all 50 states on June 13 with a delivery to Hilo, Hawaii. By year's end, the 250 truckloads will represent millions of meals. Much of the food comes from the church's global welfare system, which includes farms, processing facilities and storehouses.

Bryan Jenkins, president and regional leader of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in South Charlotte, said the donation reflects a desire to serve neighbors in the community.

Common Heart has operated since 2006, providing emergency grocery deliveries and economic empowerment resources to Union County families. Its annual Great Turkey Countdown provides a frozen turkey and fixings to 1,500 local families.

The food donation is separate from Common Heart's ongoing Love in Action fundraising campaign, which has a $125,000 goal. That campaign concludes with a gala on Friday, Oct. 2, at Threshold Church in Weddington.

Residents who want to volunteer with Common Heart or other local nonprofits can visit JustServe.org.