WFAA Telethon Raises Nearly 600,000 Meals for North Texas Children

Nourish North Texas Telethon, presented by H-E-B and hosted in partnership with WFAA and Tarrant Area Food Bank, supports the 1 in 5 children facing hunger.

WFAA teamed up with The North Texas Food Bank (NTFB) and the Tarrant Area Food Bank (TAFB) for the fourth annual Nourish North Texas Telethon, presented by H-E-B on June 25.

Volunteers took call throughout the day while WFAA highlighted stories from TAFB and NTFB. In total, thanks to matching dollars from H-E-B, the telethon raised enough money to provide more than 575,000 meals through the North Texas Food Bank.

Recent data from Feeding America’s 2024 Map the Meal Gap study highlights Texas as the leading state in food insecurity, surpassing California, with nearly 5 million residents affected. The Dallas-Fort Worth area ranks highest in Texas and fourth in the nation for the number of people experiencing hunger. Within the 25 counties served by NTFB and TAFB, 1.2 million individuals, or 1 in 7, face food insecurity, with nearly 40% of them being children. Specifically, more than 436,000 children in the DFW area, or 1 in 5, are at risk of hunger, particularly during the summer when school meal programs are unavailable, adding an extra burden of as many as 10 meals per child per week for families.

NTFB and TAFB have been instrumental in providing nutritious meals to children in need for more than 40 years. Through programs and partnerships, NTFB and TAFB provided children facing hunger with access to more than 71 million nutritious meals in the last fiscal year. School food distribution programs are a pivotal and growing part of the efforts both food banks implement to ensure children are fed year-round, including summer.

“With more children than ever facing hunger in the DFW metroplex, WFAA is proud to partner with the North Texas Food Bank and Tarrant Area Food Bank on the fourth annual Nourish North Texas Telethon to help raise awareness and funds that feed children facing hunger in our community,” said Brad Ramsey, President and General Manager for WFAA. “Thanks to the generosity of our viewers, we can make a profound impact, ensuring children have the nourishment they need to grow and thrive.”

NTFB and TAFB express their deep gratitude to community partners such as WFAA Channel 8, H-E-B, Citi Bank, NTT Data, ABC Home and Commercial Services, GM Financial, and other generous supporters dedicated to addressing the growing need for food assistance and closing the hunger gap across the DFW metroplex.

“Our commitment to addressing hunger is not just about providing food; it’s about fostering hope and building stronger communities,” said Mabrie Jackson, Managing Director of Public Affairs for H-E-B/Central Market. “We believe that by working together, we can significantly impact food insecurity and ensure that every family has access to nutritious meals. Our dedication to this cause reflects our core values and unwavering promise to support those in need.”