Use Your Voice to Stand Up Against Hunger

4 million people struggle with hunger in Texas, and we find this unacceptable.

North Texas Food Bank Advocates posing on a staircase at the state capitol

Why We Advocate for Hunger Relief

The North Texas Food Bank advocates to protect and defend policies that seek to close the hunger gap at the federal, state, and local levels.

Our advocacy program relies on passionate people to help us achieve our mission and fight for those who suffer from hunger. 45% of the meals we provide access to are tied to government programs. Protecting and strengthening these programs allows NTFB to realize our vision of a hunger-free healthy North Texas.

Learn About Hunger Policy

We send out a monthly e-newsletter updating you on public policy items that impact hunger in our cities, Texas, the United States, and sometimes the world. This newsletter is meant to help our advocates build a better understanding of food policies that can impact hunger. Additionally, we provide opportunities to engage in anti-hunger legislation.

We love your feedback, please make sure to hit reply and share your feedback with us! You are able to unsubscribe at any time.

Monthly E-Newsletter Sign up

Hunger in North Texas Statistics

Advocacy Mission & Goals

We strive to reduce food insecurity by promoting and defending anti-hunger policies at all levels of government through partnerships with public officials and community advocates.

Support, protect, and increase funding for essential hunger relief programs at all levels of government.
Partner with Local, State and Federal Agencies to identify opportunities to decrease food insecurity.
Build a coalition of public officials and community anti-hunger advocates.

Policy Priorities

Federal Priorities

State Priorities

Local Priorties

2023 State Legislative Agenda

2022 Federal Legislative Agenda

Expand Your Knowledge

Anti-Hunger News

Check out the latest national anti-hunger media related to NTFB's advocacy efforts.

Learn More

Data Maps

Explore our various data maps to learn about food insecurity in our region and Texas as a whole.

Search Maps

Newsletters

Seated Crowd at a legislative breakfast
See past newsletters and learn more about our recent advocacy efforts.

View Newsletters

Resource Library

Explore various resources including program fact sheets, partner resources, food insecurity information, and where to apply for benefits.

View Library

Take Action

Get Involved

We need community members to sign petitions, call/write elected officials, and assist with other calls-to-action. Click below to get more engaged.

NTFB Voice Community Advocates Survey

Valerie Hawthorne speaking on a microphone at the Anti-Poverty Coalition of Greater Dallas Lecture Series

Please take our NTFB Voice Community Advocates Survey to help us better understand our audience and how you might be interested in fighting hunger with us to strengthen our community.

Take Survey

Read Our Blog

Four women inside the Texas State Capitol Building. From left to right: Beth Corbett, Central Texas Food Bank Director of Advocacy and Public Policy, Valerie Hawthorne, North Texas Food Bank Director of Government Relations, Jamie Olson, Feeding Texas Director of Policy and Advocacy, and Celia Cole, Feeding Texas CEO

NTFB Advocates work towards hunger relief in our community by working with lawmakers, telling the stories of our hungry neighbors and how they can help. Read our blog to learn more.

Read BLog

Young Advocates Council

The Young Advocates Council is an opportunity for dedicated and entrepreneurial high school students to advocate for closing the meal gap in North Texas.

Learn More

Share Your Story

Your voice matters! Please share your story with us so our neighbors and elected officials can better understand the real-life situations our friends and neighbors experiencing hunger face.

Share your story

Young Professionals

The Young Professionals is a group of dedicated and entrepreneurial leaders aged 22 - 39 who meet to discuss how to best fight hunger, spread awareness at their workplace and among friends and family, and provide valuable insight to NTFB leadership.

Learn More

Family Activities

Hunger Bugs Me Children's book front cover
See activities your family can do to learn more about hunger. See our resources on how to talk to children about hunger, including our "Hunger Bugs Me" children's book and associated activities.

View Activities

Advocates in Action

NTFB Board Member Mabrie Jackson leads a panel discussion on anti-hunger policy with Representative Carl Sherman, Senator Nathan Johnson, and Representative Matt Shaheen at our Legislative Breakfast (Dec. 2022)

Community stakeholders and NTFB staff listen to our NTFB State Legislative Agenda during our Legislative Breakfast event (Dec. 2022)

Director of Government Relations Dr. Valerie Hawthorne meets with Senator Ted Cruz during Advocacy Day in Washington, D.C..

Congressman Colin Allred and his staff visit NTFB for a volunteer experience, pictured with Dan Adriansen.

CEO Trisha Cunningham and Director of Government Relations Dr. Valerie Hawthorne give a tour to Senator John Cornyn and his wife Sandy Cornyn.

Dr. Valerie Hawthorne with Beth Corbett (Central Texas Food Bank), Celia Cole (Feeding Texas), and Jamie Olson (Feeding Texas) at the Texas State Capitol

Trisha Cunningham, Dr. Valerie Hawthorne, Erica Yaeger, Tom Black, and Bill Hogg at Advocacy Day in Washington, D.C.

NTFB staff members getting on the bus to participate in Advocacy Day in Austin.

Dr. Valerie Hawthorne providing testimony before the Texas Senate Committee on Health and Human Services

Dr. Valerie Hawthorne and Trisha Cunningham with State Representatives Matt Shaheen, Michelle Beckley, Rhetta Bowers, and John Turner at the Legislative Breakfast

State Representative Terry Meza pictured with Dr. Valerie Hawthorne, Jamie Olson (Feeding Texas), Mario Obledo Jr. (San Antonio Food Bank), and AARP advocates and lobbyist

Dr. Valerie Hawthorne speaking at the Anti-Poverty Coalition of Greater Dallas Lecture Series

U.S. Congressman Colin Allred poses with Dr. Valerie Hawthorne and Dan Adriansen after volunteering on MLK Jr. Day

Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson at the North Texas Food Bank with Advocacy Program Manager, Dan Adriansen

U.S. Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson at the Black History Month Celebration of Giving event, pictured with Dan Adriansen

Advocacy Program Manager Dan Adriansen and Child Programs Specialist Brandon Boling meet with Scherron Richard, Field Representative for Congressman Veasey, at a school pantry distribution at Travis World Language Academy in Grand Prairie.

Director of Government Relations Dr. Valerie Hawthorne, Advocacy Program Manager Dan Adriansen, and VP of Community Impact Anne Readhimer meet with Brayden Woods, Legislative Aide for TX-24

Paige Flink, U.S. Congressman Colin Allred, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, NTFB CEO and President Trisha Cunningham, NTFB Director of Government Relations Dr. Valerie Hawthorne, and Joleen Bagwell.

Advocacy Program Manager Dan Adriansen with Plano Mayor Pro Tem Kayci Prince and Legislative Analyst Stephen Tanner at the Plano Mayor’s Interns Volunteer Day.

Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett meets with NTFB Executive Leadership and Celia Cole of Feeding Texas to discuss the 2023 Farm Bill

NTFB staff and stakeholders take the bus back to NTFB from Austin after NTFB Advocacy Day at the State Capitol

NTFB Advocacy Day in Austin (April 12, 2023)

NTFB CEO Trisha Cunningham and Crossroads Community Services CEO Benaye Watkins Chambers with Rep. Venton Jones after their meeting at the Texas State Capitol

Rep. Mihaela Plesa (HD 70) poses with Chef Uno and NTFB volunteer Riley Thomason after their meeting in Austin

Advocacy Awards

The North Texas Food Bank was inducted into Feeding America's Advocacy Hall of Fame and earned a spot on Food Bank News' Highest Honor Roll for Excellence in Advocacy.