The North Texas Food Bank, Mark Cuban Foundation and Dirk Nowitzki Foundation have held two distribution events this week at the Mark Cuban Heroes Basketball Center in South Dallas.
courtesy Alan Scaia
"We're just showing appreciation to our neighbors," says Trina Terrell-Andrews, chief executive of the Heroes Basketball Center. "We didn't put a lot of emphasis on how this is a year [after the pandemic started]. We're looking at how we can continue to be of service."
People started lining up before 6 a.m. for distribution Thursday. Volunteers gave away about 500 boxes of food during a "Center Table" event to help people who live in the Cedar Crest area.
"We're grateful for them coming into the neighborhoods because a lot of people don't have transportation," the woman at the front of the line said.
She said she was picking up food for herself and her neighbors.
"I got up early, but what about the people who can't get out, who are shut in their homes?" she asked.
The Heroes Basketball Center also handed out 200 "Beyond Burger" sliders Wednesday, along with other vegetarian and vegan food trucks.
"We've figured out there are people who don't need a whole box of food, but they do need a hot meal just to get them through the day or to pick up their spirits," Terrell-Andrews says.
She says the partnership with North Texas Food Bank will continue into May, and they are planning an event for Mother's Day as well.
"What has happened is a lot of kids are still being forced to stay home. Then you have college students coming home earlier than normal," Terrell-Andrews says. "That has changed the dynamic for a lot of people here as well."
In addition to distribution, she says the center has also brought food trucks into neighborhoods and delivered food to the homeless. People can learn more about Center Table and make donations here.
