Important Notice
Starting in January 2026, we will be adding a third distribution day each month!
1st Wednesday of the month, 10am-12pm
3rd Saturday of the month, 8am-11 am (note the new ending time)
NEW DISTRIBUTION TIME: 4th Wednesday of the month, 5pm-7pm
Go here for more information or see FAQs below.
1st Wednesday of the month, 10am-12pm
3rd Saturday of the month, 8am-11 am (note the new ending time)
NEW DISTRIBUTION TIME: 4th Wednesday of the month, 5pm-7pm
Go here for more information or see FAQs below.
First Wednesday 10AM - Noon
Third Saturday 8AM - 11 AM
Fourth Wednesday 5PM- 7PM
RECEIVING FOOD INFORMATION
Groceries are distributed from 10 AM to noon on the first Wednesday of the month, 8-11 AM on the third Saturday of the month, and the fourth Wednesday from 5 PM to 7 PM.
The location is the Dream Center facility at 12684 South U.S. Highway 63 (between Grace Church and the Phelps County Fairgrounds). If you have not yet filled out paperwork to register your information with us, please fill out THIS FORM ONLINE and email to [email protected]. We will get your signature the first time you come to pick up food. Or you can print it out and bring it with you. If you are unable to access the form, you can fill it out on site.
Please enter the Dream Center from County Road 5030, just north of the fairgrounds and south of Grace Church
The location is the Dream Center facility at 12684 South U.S. Highway 63 (between Grace Church and the Phelps County Fairgrounds). If you have not yet filled out paperwork to register your information with us, please fill out THIS FORM ONLINE and email to [email protected]. We will get your signature the first time you come to pick up food. Or you can print it out and bring it with you. If you are unable to access the form, you can fill it out on site.
Please enter the Dream Center from County Road 5030, just north of the fairgrounds and south of Grace Church
FAQs About the New Distribution Schedule at Phelps County Dream Center
Why are you adding a distribution?
It has been a part of the Dream Center’s long-range plans to provide more access to food in our county, ultimately moving toward being open at least once a week. Our plans were sped up in late November this year when the Food Bank for Central and Northeast Missouri, which provides about 95% of the food we distribute, let us know that one of their mobile distributions (South Central Shrine Club Mobile Market) would be ending in December 2025 and they asked us to add another distribution in January diverting some of the resources currently going there.
Our board agreed that this was the logical next step for us, although it was sooner than we planned. We made a decision to go forward, knowing that it would not give us much time to get the word out to the people affected by these changes.
It has been a part of the Dream Center’s long-range plans to provide more access to food in our county, ultimately moving toward being open at least once a week. Our plans were sped up in late November this year when the Food Bank for Central and Northeast Missouri, which provides about 95% of the food we distribute, let us know that one of their mobile distributions (South Central Shrine Club Mobile Market) would be ending in December 2025 and they asked us to add another distribution in January diverting some of the resources currently going there.
Our board agreed that this was the logical next step for us, although it was sooner than we planned. We made a decision to go forward, knowing that it would not give us much time to get the word out to the people affected by these changes.
What else changes with this new distribution schedule?
We will shorten our third Saturday distribution by one hour, so it will end at 11 AM instead of noon starting in 2026. Here are the new distribution times for the month starting January 2026: 1st Wednesday, 10 AM to noon; 3rd Saturday, 8 to 11 AM; 4th Wednesday, 5-7 PM.
Second, in order to make sure that we will have enough food to cover all of our distribution times (and we expect that we will be serving more families as there is more access to food), we are asking neighbors to pick up ONCE per month, which is what we were able to offer the community for more than 20 years. Our plan is to be able to offer a similar quantity and quality of food at each distribution to each family. We will be receiving two truck deliveries per month and plan to have USDA food available at all three distributions.
We will shorten our third Saturday distribution by one hour, so it will end at 11 AM instead of noon starting in 2026. Here are the new distribution times for the month starting January 2026: 1st Wednesday, 10 AM to noon; 3rd Saturday, 8 to 11 AM; 4th Wednesday, 5-7 PM.
Second, in order to make sure that we will have enough food to cover all of our distribution times (and we expect that we will be serving more families as there is more access to food), we are asking neighbors to pick up ONCE per month, which is what we were able to offer the community for more than 20 years. Our plan is to be able to offer a similar quantity and quality of food at each distribution to each family. We will be receiving two truck deliveries per month and plan to have USDA food available at all three distributions.
Will you still have walk-in appointments for those who can’t come to the regular distributions?
Yes! Please check our website calendar. These times will normally be on the week when there is no regular distribution.
Yes! Please check our website calendar. These times will normally be on the week when there is no regular distribution.
Will you still offer proxies?
We will offer proxies at the 1st Wednesday and 3rd Saturday distributions, but not at the 4th Wednesday distribution starting in January.
We will offer proxies at the 1st Wednesday and 3rd Saturday distributions, but not at the 4th Wednesday distribution starting in January.
When will you need volunteers?
Our truck unloading times will remain the same as they have in the past, as will our pre-packing time before the 3rd Saturday distribution. We will need registration and lobby volunteers as well as some warehouse volunteers on the 4th Wednesday night. We are getting a volunteer application up and running so our volunteers can sign up for specific slots to help. In the meanwhile, you can find out about volunteer needs on our website. More information coming soon!
Our truck unloading times will remain the same as they have in the past, as will our pre-packing time before the 3rd Saturday distribution. We will need registration and lobby volunteers as well as some warehouse volunteers on the 4th Wednesday night. We are getting a volunteer application up and running so our volunteers can sign up for specific slots to help. In the meanwhile, you can find out about volunteer needs on our website. More information coming soon!
Common Questions When it Comes to Receiving Food from PCDC
Where do you have to live to receive food?
We serve residents of Phelps County. Those living outside Phelps County, click here for a list of food pantries in other Missouri counties.
Our location is Phelps County Dream Center, 12684 U.S. Highway 63 south in Rolla, behind Grace Church and just north of the Phelps County Fairgrounds.
We serve residents of Phelps County. Those living outside Phelps County, click here for a list of food pantries in other Missouri counties.
Our location is Phelps County Dream Center, 12684 U.S. Highway 63 south in Rolla, behind Grace Church and just north of the Phelps County Fairgrounds.
How do I qualify?
There are two ways to qualify:
1) By already receiving assistance: Families who already receive state or federal assistance for the entire family, such as food stamps, housing assistance, utility assistance, Temporary Aid for Needy Families or other related assistance, are automatically eligible for the food.
Or, 2) by income guidelines: If families do not qualify through receiving state or federal aid, they can qualify by having income under the 185% poverty guidelines established by the federal government.
There are two ways to qualify:
1) By already receiving assistance: Families who already receive state or federal assistance for the entire family, such as food stamps, housing assistance, utility assistance, Temporary Aid for Needy Families or other related assistance, are automatically eligible for the food.
Or, 2) by income guidelines: If families do not qualify through receiving state or federal aid, they can qualify by having income under the 185% poverty guidelines established by the federal government.
Can someone else pick up food for me?
If you are eligible, you can have someone pick up your food by filling out the form below and having the person bring it with them to the distribution.
We are not able to provide delivery service.
We do have curbside service for those who cannot come into the facility. Let the parking team know you are unable to enter the building, and they will send a volunteer out to get your information, determine eligibility and provide groceries to your car.
If you are eligible, you can have someone pick up your food by filling out the form below and having the person bring it with them to the distribution.
We are not able to provide delivery service.
We do have curbside service for those who cannot come into the facility. Let the parking team know you are unable to enter the building, and they will send a volunteer out to get your information, determine eligibility and provide groceries to your car.
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What do I need to bring each time?
Please bring a box or laundry basket to store your food in. We will also need IDs and birth dates for all of those in your household the first time we enter your information into our database.
Please bring a box or laundry basket to store your food in. We will also need IDs and birth dates for all of those in your household the first time we enter your information into our database.
Can't make distribution day?
Set up a meeting time to pick-up food. Just click the link below, fill out the appointment request and we will confirm if we can meet with you at that time.
