The Community Pantry was founded in 1999 by Jim Harlin and Tom Crider, two men who saw a need for healthy food and nutrition initiatives in the City of Gallup and surrounding areas. In the beginning, the Community Pantry was a small building nestled on the west side of the city, but in 2003 found its official home on Hasler Valley Road in a brand-new facility.
The current building includes offices, a food distribution warehouse, and a large outdoor area for gardens and greenhouses.
The Community Pantry serves people in Northwestern New Mexico and includes a branch in Grants, NM, which serves all of Cibola County.