Food banks, pantries, and churches across North Texas feed thousands annually near Thanksgiving, and this year is no different.
On Friday and Saturday, NBC DFW reported that the North-Texas Food Bank held food distribution for families in need. An estimated 100-plus churches came to visit the NTFB to pick up supplies on Friday.
Each church will give out its meals sometime before Thanksgiving. The NTFB held their distribution on Saturday at UNT Dallas, with enough meals to feed 1,500 families. Churches in the community will distribute over 7,000 meals in time for Thanksgiving.
Giving out meals has become more difficult due to nationwide supply shortages. Along with scarcity for specific items, such as turkeys, there is more overall demand for meals.
Dr. Teadran White, Inspired Vision Compassion Center CEO, said to WFAA, “We’re feeling the pinch.” White explained why people are suddenly flocking to food centers. “When you’re talking the kind of inflation we’ve got going on right now, people are scared.”
The Inspired Vision Center reports they receive around 100 new families a day looking for meals or supplies.
In Oak Cliff, some charities ran out of Thanksgiving food. Oak Cliff’s Heart of Harvest had to offer grocery gift cards after food distributors ran out of turkey and ham.
Despite difficulties, Oak Cliff Heart of Harvest and other Dallas charities are grateful for the impact they can still make.
“I feel blessed to be able to provide resources to our people,” one volunteer stated.
Turkeys and other meats aren’t the only things given out this season. Oak Cliff’s Veggie Project takes in donations from farmers after the price of fresh produce rose drastically.
Non-profits across Dallas are still taking donations and urge people to check in with local resources to help a family this winter.