Latest news with #NorthTexasFoodBank
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Food from the Bar Campaign Raises 445,460 Meals for Children Facing Hunger
North Texas legal community partners with North Texas Food Bank to fight summer hunger Food from the Bar Logo North Texas Food Bank's Food from the Bar Campaign Dallas, TX, June 09, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The North Texas Food Bank (NTFB) and members of the North Texas legal community joined forces this spring for the annual Food from the Bar campaign, raising the equivalent of 445,460 meals to help children and families facing hunger during the summer months. Through donations, food drives and volunteer service, law firms and legal departments came together to support families as students lose access to free and reduced-price school meals. Since the campaign began in 2019, Food from the Bar has helped provide more than 2.4 million meals. 'The legal community is making a life-changing difference for families across North Texas,' said Johnny Jenkins, strategic initiatives manager for the North Texas Food Bank. 'Because of the meals they enabled, children will be able to enjoy their summer and return to school nourished and ready to learn.' This year's campaign raised $145,718, collected 940 pounds of food and contributed 212 hours of volunteer service. The effort wrapped with a recognition event on May 28, honoring top-performing firms: Partner 4 Hope Award (Top Team Per Capita) - Simon Greenstone Panatier Power of Attorney Award (Top Team Overall) - Vinson & Elkins New Counsel Award - Walters Balido & Crain #RaiseTheBar Award (Most Active Social Media Campaign) - Waters Kraus Paul Can-Do Award (Most Food Collected) - Bank of America Legal Department Collective Force Award (Most Volunteers) - Kershaw Anderson King Broadest Appeal Award (Most Diverse Involvement) - Gibson Dunn & Crutcher 'We're incredibly thankful to the legal community for stepping up to help feed children during the summer,' said Trisha Cunningham, president and CEO of the North Texas Food Bank. 'Their generosity and commitment have made a real difference, especially at a time when many kids lose access to regular meals. 'Texas leads the nation in food insecurity for the second year in a row. In the Dallas-Fort Worth area alone, 1.3 million people face hunger, including 1 in 5 children in our service area. Summer should be a time for play, not hunger. Because of your support, we can provide kids with the nutritious meals they need to thrive,' continued Cunningham. The law firms and legal organizations that provided children with access to nutritious food through the Food from the Bar campaign included: Akin Gump Bank of America Legal Department Byrd Adatto Bar Committee for Community Involvement Carter Arnett Bennett & Perez Dallas Bar Association Dallas Trial Lawyers Association Dean, Omar, Branham & Shirley, LLP Fulton Jeang Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP Kershaw Anderson King PepsiCo, Inc. Quilling Selander Lownds Winslett & Moser Sheppard Mullin & Dedman School of Law Simon Greenstone Panatier, PC Vinson & Elkins Walters, Balido & Crain Attorneys at Law Waters, Kraus, & Paul The campaign was originally launched as Partners 4 Hope and rebranded as Food from the Bar in 2024 to reflect expanded support from legal associations, including the Dallas Bar Association and Dallas Trial Lawyers Association. For more information, visit About North Texas Food Bank The North Texas Food Bank (NTFB) is a leading nonprofit organization that fights hunger and provides children, seniors and families in North Texas access to nutritious food. For over 40 years, we have been at the forefront of hunger relief, committed to ensuring that no one in our community lacks access to healthy food. Our extensive network of 500 food pantries and organizations, volunteers, and donors enables us to deliver more than 118 million physical meals annually to those in need. Beyond just addressing hunger, we focus on nourishing lives by offering nutrition education, investing in our network partners, innovating solutions to eliminate hunger and advocating for policies that tackle the root causes of food insecurity. Our dedication to excellence is reflected in our 4-star rating from Charity Navigator, highlighting our strong governance, integrity, and financial stability. As a proud member of Feeding America, the nation's largest hunger relief network, we are committed to ensuring everyone in North Texas has the nourishment needed to lead a healthy and fulfilling life. For more information, visit or connect with us on social media @NorthTexasFoodBank. Attachments Food from the Bar Logo North Texas Food Bank's Food from the Bar Campaign CONTACT: Jeff Smith North Texas Food Bank 469-891-7022 in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Food bank launches 5-year plan to combat food insecurity in North Texas
The Brief The North Texas Food Bank has launched a five-year "Fulfilling Futures" initiative. The plan aims to move beyond food distribution to address the root causes of hunger through programs like Food RX and support services. Nearly 774,000 people in North Texas, including one in five children, are food insecure, a situation worsened by rising rent and grocery costs. DALLAS - The North Texas Food Bank has unveiled a plan to combat hunger at its roots and build self-sufficient communities in North Texas. What we know On Friday, the NTFB launched a new, five-year initiative called Fulfilling Futures, designed to go beyond feeding to fueling long-term wellbeing across the region. "This includes optimizing our supply chain, really leaning into some warehouse management systems we have, really track that food and get it out efficiently to our community," said Trisha Cunningham, the nonprofit's president and CEO. The plan also includes growing NTFB's Food RX program, partnering with at least 50 medical clinics in the next five years, and increasing investments in those partners who are offering wrap-around services such as career training, financial coaching, and health care. What you can do "We cannot do this work alone, especially as we look towards the future," Cunningham said. "So we want the community to continue to join us to donate, volunteer, and advocate for those strong anti-hunger policies." By the numbers Over the past five years, the NTFB has doubled its meal distribution. "People are really surprised by that because all of the economic growth in our community. But we still have the eighth highest number of people who are food insecure," Cunningham said. Approximately 774,000 people in North Texas, including one in five children, experience food insecurity. "We know that inflation has led food insecurity at the zip code level and it's very difficult for some of these people who are food insecure to make these tough choices," she said. Cunningham pointed to a Zillow study that found rent in Dallas has gone up by 30% over the past five years. Groceries also went up by 22% during that time, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Do I pay for my rent, my groceries, my medicine? Because they have these fixed costs that they have to meet. But then what gives? So, that's why we're seeing more people coming to us for access to that," she said. The Source The North Texas Food Bank held a news conference on Friday to announce details in this story.
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
North Texas Food Bank Launches Plan to Combat Hunger at its Roots and Build Self-Sufficient Communities
Fulfilling Futures strategic plan aims to close the hunger gap across all North Texas Communities North Texas Food Bank Fulfilling Futures Dallas, TX, May 16, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The North Texas Food Bank (NTFB) today announced the launch of its bold new strategic plan, Fulfilling Futures, a visionary five-year initiative designed to go beyond feeding to fueling long-term well-being across the region. The plan builds on the momentum of the recently concluded Nourish North Texas campaign and strategic plan, which exceeded its ambitious $500 million goal, demonstrating the region's deep commitment to fighting hunger. 'Our mission is rooted in the same belief that has guided us for more than 40 years: No one deserves to be hungry,' said Trisha Cunningham, president and CEO of NTFB. 'Fulfilling Futures is the next evolution of that vision, building on the success of the past by harnessing our scale to more dynamically serve our neighbors and partners for the long term.' Fulfilling Futures aims to close critical meal gaps, equip partner organizations, expand a holistic approach to fight hunger, and ensure sustainable food access for all. The new strategic plan is a direct response to the urgent need in North Texas, where over 774,000 people, including one in five children, experience food insecurity. Rising inflation, housing costs, and stagnating wages have widened this gap, making NTFB's mission more crucial. Although NTFB essentially filled the meal gap across its service area over the last two years, its data analysis reveals uneven food distribution and disparities in access to holistic support services when zooming in closer at the ZIP code-level. In partnership with the Boston Consulting Group and after nearly a year of community and partner agency input, Fulfilling Futures introduces a transformative approach to harness the scale of NTFB to more dynamically serve neighbors and partners, for the long-term, with the goal of meeting at least 80% of the need in every ZIP code by the close of the next five years. 'This goal is important to meet the needs of our neighbors and accelerate their paths to self-sufficiency. We also believe that by better equipping partners and providing more holistic support through this plan, along with the efforts of those not in our partner network, we can close the hunger gap. We know access to nutritious food is the foundation to help someone get beyond the issue of food insecurity,' says plan is anchored in five strategic priorities: Increase Agility & Efficiency in Providing Food Access: The organization plans to use data-driven strategies, enhance operational efficiency, increase the amount of non-government food that is donated and support neighbors in applying for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Optimize the NTFB Partner Network:Deepened investments in NTFB's partner network of nearly 500 food pantries and community organizations will strengthen capacity, improve data-sharing, and support programs that connect food access with services like job training and healthcare. Expand Holistic Approach to Fighting Hunger:NTFB will continue to invest in holistic support that is designed to address the root causes of hunger. This plan calls for growing NTFB's FoodRx program, partnering with at least 50 medical clinics in the next five years and increasing our investments in those partners who are offering wrap-around services such as career training, financial coaching and health care. NTFB aspires to help its partner network grow or launch 20 additional services through these investments. Improve and Leverage Data to Meet the Need:Enhanced data systems that include input from partner agencies and neighbors will address disparities in food distribution and help tailor resources to meet the unique needs of every community. NTFB will also prioritize public reporting on food insecurity trends to improve the community's understanding, access, and utilization. Ensure Financial Sustainability:NTFB plans to grow its endowment and boost planned giving via its Full Plate Society. NTFB will continue to build its endowment to strengthen its financial position, ensuring that support is always available for families, no matter the market conditions. During the last five years, the North Texas Food Bank doubled its meal distribution, reaching a record 118 million physical meals last fiscal year, of which 90% were nutritious. Additionally, the Food Bank assisted in helping neighbors access over 19 million meals through SNAP application assistance. Building on this progress, Fulfilling Futures introduces a targeted, data-informed and community centered approach to ensure every neighbor, not just some, receives the nourishment and support they need. 'Hunger impacts everything—a child's ability to learn, a parent's ability to provide, a family's ability to thrive,' said Ginny Kissling, NTFB board chair and president of Americas and chief operating officer at Ryan. 'That's why this plan matters. Feeding families today opens doors for a stronger tomorrow.' 'We know that simply providing food isn't enough—our neighbors face systems that too often stand in the way of lasting progress,' said Cunningham. 'That's why Fulfilling Futures is more than a plan; it's a community-powered movement to tackle those systemic barriers head-on. The North Texas Food Bank calls on donors, volunteers, policymakers, and partners to join us in this bold mission. When North Texas comes together, we don't just fight hunger—we transform lives and fulfill futures.' To support this effort or explore partnership opportunities, visit # # # # About the North Texas Food Bank The North Texas Food Bank (NTFB) is a leading nonprofit organization that fights hunger and provides children, seniors and families in North Texas access to nutritious food. For over 40 years, we have been at the forefront of hunger relief, committed to ensuring that no one in our community lacks access to healthy food. Our extensive network of 500 food pantries and organizations, volunteers, and donors enables us to deliver more than 100 million nutritious meals annually to those in need. Beyond just addressing hunger, we focus on nourishing lives by offering nutrition education, investing in our network partners, innovating solutions to eliminate hunger and advocating for policies that tackle the root causes of food insecurity. Our dedication to excellence is reflected in our 4-star rating from Charity Navigator, highlighting our strong governance, integrity, and financial stability. As a proud member of Feeding America, the nation's largest hunger relief network, we are committed to ensuring everyone in North Texas has the nourishment needed to lead a healthy and fulfilling life. For more information, visit or connect with us on social media @NorthTexasFoodBank. Attachment North Texas Food Bank Fulfilling Futures CONTACT: Jeff Smith North Texas Food Bank 469-891-7022 in to access your portfolio
Boston Globe
28-04-2025
- Business
- Boston Globe
Trump cuts threaten Americans' safety net just as more are expected to need it
Popular aid programs like Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, could also face cutbacks as Republicans in Congress look to pay for promised tax cuts. The president is expected to detail his plans for such programs soon as part of his fiscal 2026 budget proposal. 'There are changes coming from multiple directions at once, but all of which have the real possibility of affecting families in general and, in the worst-case scenario of how they might converge, having potentially really devastating financial effects for families,' said Megan Curran, director of policy at the Center on Poverty and Social Policy at Columbia University. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up The moves come just as tariffs, and the uncertainty around them, stoke pessimism about the outlook for the US economy. So far, unemployment remains low and retail sales healthy. Advertisement But if prices rise and joblessness increases, as many economists expect, more Americans will seek out the country's patchwork system of private and public initiatives aimed at alleviating hardship and cushioning the economy from a protracted downturn. President Trump is known to vacillate frequently on the specifics of his policy agenda, and Republican lawmakers are still negotiating the details of their budget package. But the emerging changes, paired with anticipated tariff-related price hikes, portend higher costs for Americans and fewer resources for them to fall back on, said Curran and other analysts. Advertisement The White House did not respond to a request for comment. At the North Texas Food Bank, president Trisha Cunningham is trying to manage the fallout of a rapidly shifting policy landscape in Washington. That includes cuts to funding for the Local Food Purchase Assistance program, a US Department of Agriculture initiative that supports the purchase of local products for food banks. The North Texas Food Bank, a network of some 500 agencies and organizations in Dallas and surrounding counties, will now have to figure out how to cope without the roughly $9 million Cunningham expected from the program in the coming months. The tariffs themselves are also problematic, she said, citing concerns that any further increases in grocery prices could spur more people to seek food assistance when pantries are already contending with high demand from years of inflation. All told, Cunningham foresees a situation she calls 'ugly.' 'We're very concerned about the tariffs and what that's going to mean for the consumer, for the retailers, for us,' she said. 'That dollar is not going to go as far as it has if we're having to purchase more food to try to fill some of the delta of the government.' The Trump administration also slashed funding for a separate, but similar program known as Local Food for Schools, which assists schools and child care facilities with food purchases. In a statement, the USDA said that the Biden administration had 'inflated' statutory programs 'without any plans for long-term solutions, and even in 2024, used the pandemic as a reason to make funding announcements.' Advertisement 'While the pandemic is over, USDA has not and will not lose focus on its core mission of strengthening food security, supporting agricultural markets and ensuring access to nutritious foods,' said a USDA spokesperson, adding that other funds and programs to support feeding efforts remain available. Community organizations are already feeling the impact of reduced federal support, according to the Federal Reserve's latest Beige Book, which compiles economic anecdotes from across the country. 'Cuts to federal grants and subsidies along with declines in philanthropic donations caused gaps in services provided by many community organizations,' the report said. Meanwhile in Congress, Republicans are seeking to deliver trillions of dollars in new and extended tax cuts — a priority of Trump's — alongside spending cuts demanded by conservatives. Republicans are working on a package that would slash taxes by up to $5.3 trillion over a decade. Conservative hardliners are pushing for trillions of dollars in offsetting spending cuts over the next decade. Analysts say that is likely to require cuts to Medicaid, which helps cover medical costs for lower-income Americans, as well as SNAP — formerly known as food stamps — and other social programs with millions of beneficiaries. But some moderate Republicans have warned against cuts to the programs. It's also not clear what will ultimately pass Congress given Republicans' thin majorities in both chambers. Programs such as SNAP act as so-called automatic stabilizers during economic slowdowns, providing support to Americans as more become eligible for the benefits when their incomes fall. But America's safety net has long been fragile. Recipiency rates for unemployment insurance, or the share of unemployed individuals who receive benefits, have declined in most states in recent decades. Advertisement Automatic stabilizers don't just help those directly receiving the benefits. An analysis by the Government Accountability Office in 2023 found they reduce the 'detrimental effects' of economic downturns and prevent the overall economy from getting worse. Americans are already feeling more anxious, surveys show. Nearly a third of households expect to be in a worse financial situation a year from now as costs accelerate and job prospects worsen, a Federal Reserve Bank of New York survey showed. Low-income households in particular are under financial strain after years of high inflation. Layoffs are generally low, outside of the thousands of workers caught in federal cost-saving efforts and related spillovers, but many employers have slowed hiring or paused it altogether. Such a slowdown suggests out-of-work Americans will find it increasingly difficult to find employment. The administration broadly argues its cuts are necessary to curtail wasteful federal spending, reduce a ballooning national deficit and make government operations more efficient. The federal workforce reductions and efficiency efforts include plans to slash about 7,000 jobs at the Social Security Administration, which delivers benefits to millions of seniors and disabled Americans. In mid-April, the whole staff of the group tasked with coordinating federal housing aid to cities was put on leave. And 10,000 workers at the US Department of Health and Human Services were cut earlier in the month. Among them were roughly two dozen staffers at the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, said Mark Wolfe, executive director at the National Energy Assistance Directors Association. That program provides states with funding that is used to help low-income families pay heating and cooling bills, buy equipment for their homes and more. Advertisement A bipartisan group of senators said the staff terminations 'threaten to devastate' the program and could undermine the agency's ability to disburse the funding. Wolfe echoed those concerns. 'It's not clear whether this is one part of an agenda to scale back the social services safety net in the United States,' Wolfe said. 'Because if that is the plan, they are succeeding.' HHS did not respond to a request for comment. With austerity the dominant posture in Washington currently, it's also unclear whether policymakers would be willing to step in with the kind of large-scale aid they doled out to American businesses and households during the COVID-19 pandemic should another economic downturn emerge. Skanda Amarnath, executive director at Employ America, said Trump in his second presidential term has taken a largely unilateral approach to policy making, which would likely make it all the harder for lawmakers to coalesce around any economic support. 'This is not an approach that lends itself to protecting people from unintentional fallout,' he said.
Yahoo
05-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
North Texas food banks, farmers and families make tough choices in the wake of USDA food program cuts
There are more food-insecure families in Texas than any state in the nation. The problem is acute in Dallas-Fort Worth, where one in seven — a third of them children — face hunger. "In North Texas, things have been tight,' Anne Readhimer, Chief Impact Officer for North Texas Food Bank, told CBS News. 'Everyone is just needing a little bit more help these days.' I'm 49 years old and have nothing saved for retirement — what should I do? Don't panic. Here are 5 of the easiest ways you can catch up (and fast) Nervous about the stock market in 2025? Find out how you can access this $1B private real estate fund (with as little as $10) Here are 3 'must have' items that Americans (almost) always overpay for — and very quickly regret. How many are hurting you? That's why the axing of the USDA's Local Food for Schools Cooperative Agreement Program and Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement Program (LFPA) hits hard. Readhimer said the food bank and schools in North Texas relied on these programs to get fresh produce to those in need. "We're still waiting to get a better understanding of how we're going to make up for it.' she said. In 2020, Readhimer's food bank [received] $9.2 million through the LFPA program to buy fresh produce and meat from Texas farmers. That money isn't there anymore. Readhimer said without it, the cuts impact local farmers, too. Read more: Trump warns his tariffs will spark a 'disturbance' in America — use this 1 dead-simple move to help shockproof your retirement plans ASAP Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller defended the USDA's budget cuts in a press release, "These changes also provide an opportunity for states to assume greater responsibility in shaping their own programs," he said. Miller said Texas would continue to run its Farm to School and Farm to Food Bank initiatives, with less reliance on federal funding. Local leaders and food advocates note that the loss of USDA funding will definitely make it harder for schools to provide meals to the 250,000 children who rely on them for their daily nutrition. The Trump administration's cuts to federal food assistance programs highlight the challenge families across the U.S. face in eating nutritious meals on a budget. Here are some strategies to keep your food budget on track at home. Meal planning is key. Streamline your grocery list and avoid impulse buys by creating a weekly menu based on affordable, healthy recipes. Keep stock of what you have at home. Knowing what's in your pantry and fridge and using it will cut down on food waste and unnecessary purchases. Be smart at the grocery store. Compare prices, buy in bulk, and choose store brands over name brands. Meanwhile, you can support your neighbors with their own food security by contributing to local food banks, whether by donating money, non-perishables or time as a volunteer. Business owners can partner with local farmers and suppliers and donate excess food. Companies that give employees access to nutritious food contribute to a healthier, more productive workforce overall. Want an extra $1,300,000 when you retire? Dave Ramsey says this 7-step plan 'works every single time' to kill debt, get rich in America — and that 'anyone' can do it Rich, young Americans are ditching the stormy stock market — here are the alternative assets they're banking on instead Cost-of-living in America is still out of control — and prices could keep climbing. Use these 3 'real assets' to protect your wealth today, no matter what Trump does This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
