North Dallas Shared Ministries

2875 Merrell Rd.
Dallas, TX 75229
972.620.8696
www.ndsm.org

Executive Director: Judy Rorrie, 972.620.0505/972.620.8696, judy@ndsm.org 
        
Hours
Monday-Friday, 9:30 a.m. -3:00 p.m.
Saturday 9:00 a.m. -11:30 a.m.
1st and 3rd Mondays, 6:00 -7:30 p.m.

Mission
The mission of North Dallas Shared Ministries is to provide charitable assistance for persons in need, promote a sense of self-respect and responsibility, and work with other organizations to respond to conditions of human need. The Goal of North Dallas Shared Ministries is to provide appropriate, effective, emergency assistance, both tangible and intangible to low–income clients and patients; to help these persons assume responsibility (both financial and behavioral) for their lives to the degree they are able; and to access them to entitlement, health, and community programs designed to help them achieve stability for the long term.

Services

• Emergency Assistance: Services include not only food assistance, but rent and utility assistance; transportation aid in the form of fuel vouchers, DART tokens and Greyhound bus tickets; medical support for prescriptions, eyeglasses; financial provisions for driver’s licenses, ID’s and birth certificates; and school supplies.
• Free Medical Clinic: Opened in 2000, the Medical Clinic is operated for the working poor without health insurance or access to affordable care. The Clinic sees adults and children two evenings a week. The scope of services includes the treatment of minor illnesses, immunizations, baby/child checkups, physical exams, as well as the treatment of podiatry and dermatology problems. The women’s Breast and Pelvic Screening Exam Clinic is open twice a month. In July 2003 services expanded to include emergency dental treatment to low income adults. The cost of medication and lab work for the Clinic patients is absorbed by NDSM.
• The Clothes Closet: Recognizing that low income persons face difficulties providing adequate clothing for their families, NDSM opened the Clothes Closet in April 2000. Those who qualify through the Emergency Aid Center may receive free clothing, three outfits per person, plus shoes, underwear, etc., up to three times per 12-month period. The Clothes Closet is also available to those who wish to purchase clothing at low prices. Monies earned from these sales are used to purchase underwear, baby clothes and other basics, which in turn are given back to the NDSM needy
• Employment Assistance: Counselors access clients to available job opportunities, assess job readiness and assist in resume’ writing.
• Eyeglasses: Eyeglasses for area school children, the elderly and adults for whom glasses are necessary for employment is another cornerstone to NDSM assistance.
• Friday Food Basket for the Elderly: This weekly activity supplements NDSM’s food assistance program by offering to seniors 60 and older a bag of groceries without their having to wait or complete an application. There is no limit to the number of visits.
• People and Nutrition (PAN): PAN is a USDA monthly supplemental food assistance program for the elderly offered in partnership with North Texas Food Bank.
• Food for Families: This monthly off-site assistance program for the non-elderly is offered in cooperation with the North Texas Food Bank at John Calvin Presbyterian Church
• English as a Second Language Classes: In order to encourage client personal responsibility, evening English classes are offered in the belief that those able to speak English will be more employable.
• Peer Lending Action Network (PLAN): NSDM has partnered with PLAN to provide space and candidates for this micro-lending program with a mission to increase economic stability and self-sufficiency by making loans to the poor to start small businesses.
• Intangible Assistance: Supportive counseling and referrals to other viable agencies and services are but two more facets of the NDSM mission. The underlying goal of every one of these programs is to help clients help themselves as best they can.

Volunteer Opportunities 

• Dentist [2 days/month]
• Food pantry volunteers- fill grocery orders & stock shelves
• Clothes bank volunteers
• Landscaping

In-Kind Donations

• Clothing
• Non-Perishable canned goods and packaged food
• Hygiene Items
• Large paper grocery bags and shopping bags

Where to deliver
Donations may be dropped off at 2875 Merrell Road between 8:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m., M – F and 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m., Saturday. For further information call 972.620.0671.