Five Ways to Fight Hunger this Summer
This summer, there is the hope that life will look a little more like it did before the pandemic. With more widespread availability of the vaccine and the job market starting a slow recovery, more people will likely be traveling, coming together for gatherings, and starting to enjoy some of the pre-COVID summer activities that were missed last year.
However, we also know that for those experiencing hunger – especially those who were struggling before the pandemic – the crisis remains. And the summer brings additional challenges, particularly for families who depend on free or reduced-priced meals that kids receive at school.
The North Texas Food Bank needs your help this summer more than ever to support the 1 in 6 neighbors in North Texas facing hunger, including 1 in 5 children. We welcome your efforts to fight hunger with these five ways below that you can provide hunger-relief this summer.
- Donate to the NTFB Summer Million+ Meals Challenge. You can help provide access to more than 3.5 million meals for children, seniors and families facing hunger through our Million+ Meals Challenge. As of June 1, and for a limited time, our friends at the David M. Crowley Foundation will triple your gift – up to $425,000 – meaning $1 will provide 9 nutritious meals. Give now and your gift will go three times as far toward providing healthy meals to North Texans who need it most: ntfb.org/summer.
- Host a food drive. Whether hosted virtually or on your front porch or in a conference room, a food donation to the North Texas Food Bank is a great way to engage your friends, colleagues and family in service and make a significant impact in fighting hunger this summer. Access our Amazon Wishlist to know our most needed food items and drop off your collections at the Perot Family Campus in Plano.
- Shop for a Cause. The Food Bank is grateful for community partners and retailers who donate a portion of their sales to hunger-relief. These community fundraising campaigns are an easy and impactful way of giving back. You can find the latest campaigns on our website here.
- Start your own fundraiser. It is easy to launch your own online fundraiser straight from our website. Or perhaps you (or your kids) will be hosting a lemonade stand or neighborhood business this summer and you want to incorporate service into your enterprise. We love receiving donations from your creative endeavors and with $1 providing access to 3 meals, a little goes a long way!
- Volunteer. Finally, if you want to be on the frontlines fighting hunger, we are excited to welcome back external volunteer opportunities five days a week (Tuesday-Saturday) for shifts at our distribution center at the Perot Family Campus. We follow strict safety protocols as the health and safety of our volunteers and staff continue to be our top priority. You can learn more about our opportunities here: https://ntfb.org/volunteer/
Becoming a hunger fighter this summer will help neighbors like Adimir, a father who works hard to support his family, including three kids under the age of 7. When the pandemic began, he lost his source of income as an electrical contractor and needed help to pay his bills and feed his family. Thankfully, Adimir heard about one of the NTFB Mobile Pantry distributions at Fair Park and was able to receive fresh produce, grains and even a turkey. But as the summer looms, we know families like Adimir’s will continue to feel the challenges this last year has brought, and the community’s support of NTFB – whether through donations of time, food or resources – are so appreciated.
“I’m just getting back on my feet,” Adimir says. “The food we receive helps us finish the week. It means a lot.”
To read more about Adimir and other neighbors, read our latest Around the Table newsletter about summer hunger.
Caryn Berardi is a Communications Specialist for the North Texas Food Bank.