A School Pantry is Bridging the Gap

For one mom, the provision of food means the ability to pay for all of her other bills.

Between transportation, housing, food and other necessary costs, Vanessa says her family simply doesn’t have any extra.

Vanessa is a mom of four, including 8-year-old Quinten (pictured). She started working about six months ago in Plano—a job for which she’s thankful. However, she says, living in South Dallas means the cost of commuting eats into her pay and makes it difficult to afford the groceries her kids need. Previously, she qualified for SNAP benefits that helped them purchase food.  

Thankfully, her son’s school told her about Dallas ISD’s Resource Center South, where she can shop twice a month in the pantry, run by NTFB partner Brother Bill’s Helping Hand.

“This helps me a lot,” she says. “It helps a lot.”

She said they love when they can shop for milk, potatoes, canned goods, pasta and other ingredients. With four boys, she laughs, nothing goes to waste. “They eat it all,” she says.

And with the money they save, Vanessa has enough to pay for their other basic needs.

Find out more about NTFB’s School Pantry program here, and about how you can support North Texas families here.