The North Texas Food Bank estimates that one in five kids in our region is food insecure. But the good news is that there are resources to help.
"During these times where inflation is crazy ... we wanted to get the word out about free federally-funded nutrition programs taking place all over the metroplex this summer," said Ashley Douglas, Senior Director, United Way of Metropolitan Dallas.
In the summer of 2021, more than 12 million meals were served to North Texans in Dallas and Collin counties struggling with hunger.
"We saw the demand last year in the summer of 2021 increase four times what we normally see in the metroplex," Douglas said.
On Wednesday, for the first time since the pandemic, the North Texas Summer & Supper Council hosted an in-person Summer Meals Kickoff event for more than 150 children at Beckley-Saner Recreation Center in South Oak Cliff.
Events like this can increase summer meal participation, alerting families that community sites are open and offer a fun and easy way to get a nutritious meal.
In a typical summer, the North Texas Summer and Supper Council works with more than two dozen partners to serve more than two million meals to more than 60,000 children.
"For many children, these meals keep them going," Douglas said. "When school is out of session parents have to consider the cost of meals three times the amount that they normally do (when kids are in school). And when we talk about food-insecure households, it's an even broader issue."
To find a summer meal site near you, call 211. Or text either "FOOD" or "COMIDA" (for Spanish) to 877-877.
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