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‘It's Heart-Wrenching' | Roadside Food Pantries Closing in McKinney

The first pantry opened two years ago

In this season of giving, the founder of Red Door Pantry, a well-known charity in McKinney, announced the non-profit is closing.

The Red Door Pantry grew in popularity when the first one opened more than two years ago.

Friday night, owner Teri Youngdale announced she’s shutting down at the end of the month.

When the pantries popped up, they highlighted the growing problem of food insecurity in McKinney.

They've have put food on tables for countless families – no strings attached - but Youngdale says she simply can't afford to keep them open.

“It’s heart-wrenching. It’s absolutely heart-wrenching,” Youngdale said.

The pantry in front of her own home was the first in McKinney.

Today, there are seven outside homes, churches and businesses.

Volunteers stock them twice a day with produce and packaged food.

Despite the success, Youngdale says Monday will be the final delivery.

The decision, she says, isn't a lack of donations or need in the community.

Instead, the former corporate employee says she needs to go back to work.

“This is something that I've been doing for two-and-a-half years. Some weeks it’s only 20 hours, other weeks it’s 80 hours you know, and I cannot work a full time job and do that,” she said.

If there is a silver lining, since the announcement, Youngdale says some have offered to keep stocking the pantries on their own.

“That's the magic of McKinney,” she said.

For now, she holding off taking them down and holding out hope the pantries don't go empty for long.

“If there's somebody that can spend that time to organize it, then it won’t close,” Youngdale said.

Youngdale says the pantries will be stocked for the last time on Monday.

Any remaining food will be donated to another local pantry.

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