UNT Dallas hosted a mobile pantry Friday. The school first started working with the North Texas Food Bank to hold monthly pantries during the pandemic.
UNT Dallas says volunteers gave 566,000 pounds of food to 18,000 people last year. At the most recent mobile pantry in January, the school says a thousand people received 23,000 pounds of food.
"We've been so blessed and lucky to have the amount of volunteers come out," says Joe Posada, UNT Dallas director of the Office of Student Connection and Support. "We're able to do four stations at a time, which allows us to move four cars."
Mobile pantries started during the pandemic, but the need has continued as people who live in the southern part of Dallas have gone back to work but struggle with higher costs for groceries.
"We still see the need," Posada says. "In southern Dallas, we're in a food desert. We're trying to meet that need."
Some in line said they were coming for the first time. Some said they had been laid off; others said, with the cold weather this week, they worried if they would be able to afford groceries in addition to their heating bill next month.
"It's just like a waiting period," one woman said. "It'll be a hefty bill. I'll have to pay it out of pocket."
"It's the gas bill and other expenses. Groceries have gotten ridiculous," a man in line said. "It's almost impossible."
Atmos Energy donated $100,000 to the North Texas Food Bank in November. People can learn more about the utility's assistance program HERE.
With temperatures still below freezing during the pantry, UNT Dallas was bringing hand warmers and hot chocolate to volunteers loading cars.
"At first, I was cold, but just moving around, I've warmed up," one volunteer said. "It's not that bad. Maybe in the summer, it might be a little more tedious."
UNT Dallas and the North Texas Food Bank will continue mobile pantries on the third Friday of every month throughout 2025. The next is scheduled March 21.
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