With Thanksgiving just a day away, local nonprofits and community groups are stepping up to make sure no one goes hungry this holiday season.<\/p>\n
Food banks say the need is higher than ever, driven by rising grocery costs and lingering impacts from the recent government shutdown.<\/p>\n
North Texas Food Bank and Tarrant Area Food Bank have been working around the clock this month, doubling operations to meet demand.<\/p>\n
Tarrant Area Food Bank said it spent nearly half its annual budget in just the last three months to keep up.<\/p>\n
\u201cEven though the government shutdown is over, people are still hurting right now. The cost of food is still up,\u201d said Enrique Rodriguez with North Texas Food Bank. \u201cWe\u2019re seeing a lot of people who\u2019ve never needed food assistance before coming and asking.\u201d<\/p>\n
On Tuesday, Tarrant Area Food Bank held its final major distribution before the holiday in Denton, feeding more than 1,500 families. That number was far more than expected.<\/p>\n
Here\u2019s a list of free Thanksgiving meals and giveaways happening on Wednesday ahead of the holiday:<\/p>\n
Our Calling Dream Center Dallas For Oak Cliff<\/a> Turkey Giveaway Ryan Family YMCA<\/a> Thanksgiving Community Dinner If you can\u2019t make it to these events, there are more ways to find food. Visit the North Texas Food Bank<\/a> or Tarrant Area Food Bank<\/a> websites and click the \u201cFind Food\u201d tabs to locate hundreds of partner pantries.<\/p>\n Parkland Health also offers a \u201cFind Help\u201d tool to connect you with resources based on your ZIP code.<\/p>\n Organizers say the work doesn\u2019t stop after Thanksgiving. Another major distribution is already scheduled for Dec. 2 with TAFB at the C.H. Collins Athletic Complex in Denton.<\/p>\n Hungry? In need of food?<\/p>\n If you’re hungry and need nutritious, free food, you can call 2-1-1 for the latest information on the SNAP<\/a> program and find alternative food resources from area food banks, food pantries and other community resources.<\/p>\n If you need food and live in Bosque, Cooke, Denton, Erath, Hamilton, Hill, Hood, Johnson, Palo Pinto, Parker, Somervell, Tarrant or Wise counties, search the Tarrant Area Food Bank website for food pantries<\/a>.<\/p>\n If you need food and live in Collin, Dallas, Delta, Ellis, Fannin, Grayson, Hopkins, Hunt, Kaufman, Lamar, Navarro, or Rockwall counties, search the North Texas Food Bank website for food pantries<\/a>.<\/p>\n If you need food and live elsewhere in Texas, visit the Feeding Texas website<\/a> to find your local food bank and food pantries.<\/p>\n
<\/a>8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Thanksgiving meal and donation drive-thru. Located at 1702 S. Cesar Chavez Boulevard in Dallas. Drive-thru donation drive from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., accepting new or gently used winter clothing.<\/p>\n
<\/a>1 p.m.
Free Thanksgiving meal distribution, including turkey, ham, and sides. Located at 1900 S. Ewing Avenue in Dallas. Drive-thru only.<\/p>\n
1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Located at South Oak Cliff High School at 3601 S Marsalis Avenue in Dallas. With the SMU football and basketball teams, local leaders, and the Dallas Police.<\/p>\n
2 p.m.
Includes a hot meal, games, and family activities. Intake form required, but no proof of need. Located at 8250 McCart Avenue in Fort Worth.<\/p>\n