The North Texas Food Bank, along with the University of North Texas at Dallas and Tom Thumb/Albertsons, will provide food to the community through a public event on Nov. 12.
The public holiday food distribution will take place at the UNT Dallas Campus located at 7300 University Hills Blvd. in southern Dallas. Each family will receive approximately 60 pounds of groceries at the mobile food distribution, including a Thanksgiving turkey for the first 250 families, thanks to Tom Thumb/Albertsons.
The food distribution is one of more than 50 holiday food distributions supported by the NTFB during November to provide food to 700,000 people facing hunger across its 13-county service territory. This includes more than 250,000 children, giving the NTFB service area the fourth highest level of food-insecure children in the country.
“Tom Thumb/Albertsons and UNT Dallas are joining forces with the North Texas Food Bank to mobilize real change in providing food and hope for our neighbors. Our partners in this initiative operate with the heart of those we serve in mind, and I am grateful for their commitment,” said Trisha Cunningham, president and CEO.
“As we work to address the growing issues of hunger and poverty in our community, we look for partners like these who stand ready to address this complex problem. Their generosity and initiative help advance our mission of bridging the hunger gap in North Texas during this critical time and beyond.”
Tom Thumb/Albertsons reduces food insecurity through its “Recipe for Change” initiative. As part of this platform, it has raised more than $200 million. The company donates millions of pounds of food each year to local food banks, pantries and other agencies.
“We are pleased to collaborate with the North Texas Food Bank and UNT Dallas in providing turkeys to help ease the financial burden that the holidays present for many families,” said Christy Lara, director of public relations, Tom Thumb/Albertsons.
“We are committed to addressing hunger in the communities where we live and serve and helping feed our neighbors in need by championing innovative programs and partnerships to help break the cycle of hunger.”
Mobile distribution participants do not have to register to pick up food but are required to have a vehicle unless otherwise specified. The food is distributed on a first-come, first-served basis. Although no identification is required, the participants will be asked to share their name along with the size of their family and provide a zip code where their family resides to receive food. In addition, educational activity booklets on food nutrition will be available for children in Spanish and English.
Since the onset of the pandemic, UNT Dallas has served as a critical partner of the North Texas Food Bank, hosting mobile pantry distributions on campus alongside NTFB. Each month UNT Dallas hosts a free, drive-thru food distribution to provide relief to students and the southern Dallas community members in need of support.
“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. 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,” Cunningham said.
For more information on the holiday food distributions taking place in North Texas throughout November, visit ntfb.org/holidaydistributions. The food is distributed on a first-come, first-served basis and some of the distributing food pantries may ask for proof of residency to ensure they are distributing the food to residents who live in the counties they serve.
