DALLAS (KRLD) - A non-profit in Dallas has launched a fundraising campaign to provide meals for the city's homeless population. The Bridge offers shelter to an average of 300 people per night but also provides health care and classes to help people find a permanent place to live.
"Dealing with folks' basic nutritional needs is critical to their contemplating what a recovery from homelessness may be like for them," says President David Woody.
Woody says the Bridge serves an average of a thousand meals to 650 people each day.
Thursday is National Hunger Awareness Day. The Bridge is launching a campaign to raise $50,000 to provide 18,000 meals.
"If a person provided ten dollars, what they need to know is they would be serving, essentially, three meals to guests at the Bridge," Woody says.
The Dallas Mayor's Task Force on Poverty says 22.9% of people in the city live in poverty, compared to 18% in Fort Worth and the national average of 15.1%. The Bridge says 4,538 homeless people are staying in Dallas County, an increase of nine percent over the past year.
"It's unfortunate that folks are not aware of the fact that poverty is a growing issue in our community," Woody says. "It only takes one issue, perhaps, that would push one person out of their home into an eviction experience."
The Bridge is asking people to donate ten dollars by texting BRIDGEMEALS to 71777 or here.
