The North Texas Food Bank has announced that together with its redistribution partners, Crossroads Community Services and Sharing Life, its feeding network will host more than 50 holiday food distributions during November within its 13-county service territory.
“The holiday season can be especially difficult for those who are already struggling to make ends meet each month and with inflated food, gas and housing costs, our neighbors in every zip code are facing increasingly difficult choices every day – deciding whether to purchase groceries or pay for other necessities such as gas, medicine or utilities,” said Trisha Cunningham, president and CEO.
“During the holiday season, food doesn’t just provide nourishment, it is a way for people to connect, celebrate and spend time with loved ones. So, when it is missing, it leaves a hole bigger than hunger itself. The North Texas Food Bank and our feeding partners don’t just want to help provide necessities during the holiday season – together we’re helping people connect with the ones they love.”
Holiday food distributions
Although not all food distributions will feature seasonal food items, most will include turkeys, vegetables and other food items associated with the season.
The schedule for the holiday food distributions is located at ntfb.org/holiday-distributions. Interested people are encouraged to check the website for updates to the schedule and to choose food distributions within the county they live. The food is distributed on a first-come, first-served basis and some of the distributing pantries may ask for proof of residency to ensure that they are distributing the food to residents who live in the counties they serve.
In addition to the holiday distributions, neighbors seeking food assistance can get access to food in several ways. Neighbors can also contact the North Texas Food Bank to learn more about Senior Programs and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
The North Texas Food Bank partners with the Texas Department of Agriculture to distribute a senior food box program called Commodity Supplemental Food Program. If eligible, a participant can receive a pre-packaged box of non-perishables once a month provided by the USDA at one of the multiple distribution sites. Each month, those who are 60 years and above can receive an estimated 35 pounds of USDA commodities in Dallas, Collin, Denton, Ellis, Hunt, Kaufman, Fannin, Delta, Hopkins, Lamar, Grayson, Rockwall and Navarro counties.
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program addresses the nutritional needs of low-income families and is one of the nation’s most important defenses against hunger. NTFB helps to increase enrollment through application assistance and providing SNAP information in our 13-county service area to overcome barriers to participation.
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