Food for the holidays

DAVID TAFFET | Senior Staff Writer
Taffet@DallasVoice.com
and
CAROLINE SAVOIE | East Texas Staff Writer
carosavo@storydustsearch.com

About 47 million people in the U.S. face food insecurity, according to statistics from the USDA. Of those, more than 13 million are children. During the federal government shutdown, those on SNAP, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, received only partial benefits.

In Dallas, a number of programs are designed to help, but not replace, federal food assistance. And from Thanksgiving to Christmas, those programs are ramp ing up their giving.

Cathedral of Hope
“We saw and continue to see an increase in people accessing our food services,” said the Rev. Neil Thomas of Cathedral of Hope, which runs several programs designed to combat food insecurity.

Thomas said he has seen those who’ve been generous in their donations suddenly needing assistance themselves.

“We found ways to help people without shame or feelings of guilt,” he said. “So many of us live month-to-month and paycheck-to-paycheck.”

Thomas said the shutdown of SNAP benefits raised the question of why there are more than 40 million food-insecure people in the wealthiest country in the world. He said he worried about the number of LGBTQ+ people who have to rely on these benefits.

“Perhaps we need a complete overhaul of the American dream,” he said.

Even though the shutdown has now ended, he said churches and nonprofits are in a catch-up period.

Each year, the church provides holiday baskets. Thomas said they opened the phone lines for people to reserve a basket and within four hours were sold out of their more than 500 baskets, more than they’ve ever given away before. That’s in addition to the church’s weekly food programs.

The Imperial Court and Dallas Bears raised money at a recent show at the Hidden Door last week to benefit the food programs of Cathedral of Hope, which offers several weekly meal programs to address food insecurity.

Breakfast at Cathedral of Hope — BACH — takes place in the Fellowship Hall every Saturday from 7:30-9 a.m. Other services offered on a rotating basis are HIV testing, haircuts, vaccinations, benefits sign-ups and job support services are available on a rotating basis.

Lunch is served Mondays from 11-11:45 a.m. And to-go and groceries from the church’s food pantry are offered from 11:45-noon.

Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays around mid-day, the church holds food distribution pop-ups on or near the Cathedral of Hope campus. They provide fresh produce, pantry staples and other essentials to individuals and families across the community.
To “Help Pack the Pantry,” bring canned and non-perishable foods to church any Sunday.
Requested items include:

• Travel-size toiletries: lotion, soap, shampoo, conditioner, toothpaste, combs, razors, small face towels and toilet paper
• Bottled water
• Vacuum sealed meats such as beef, tuna, chili and Vienna sausages, with “pop-tops” if available”
• Protein drinks in plastic bottles and Ensure in plastic bottles
• Peanut butter
• Fruit cups of any kind
• Canned soup with “pop-tops” if possible, but no “cream of…”
• Beef jerky
• Canned pasta “pop-tops” if possible
• Microwave macaroni and cheese cups
  Can’t make it to Cathedral of Hope on a Sunday? Dallas Voice is helping to Pack the Pantry. Drop off canned goods and non-perishable items through World AIDS Day on Dec. 1 at our office, 1825 Market Center Blvd., Ste. 240.
  You can make a donation online by clicking Give at CathedralOfHope.com/food.

Resource Center
Among the organizations that works with the North Texas Food Bank is the Resource Center Food Pantry. Founded in the late 1980s as a shelf in Crossroads Market on Cedar Springs Road, the pantry recently opened in a new location in the Health Campus at 2603 Inwood Road.

Resource Center’s food pantry helps alleviate food insecurity among people with HIV, with officials noting that good nutrition is important for the body to process many of the HIV meds that are now available.

To access the Resource Center food pantry, you must have an HIV-positive diagnosis and be a registered client. Call 214-528-0144 to schedule an appointment.

To make a donation to support the food pantry, visit MyResourceCenter.org.

AIN
The Nutrition Program at AIN, 2600 North Stemmons Freeway, provides enrolled clients with breakfast and lunch Monday through Friday.

For nutritional support during the weekend, AIN created One Meal Matters. This program collaborates with a variety of corporate and community groups, organizations, faith communities and individuals to sponsor and supply meals, volunteers and resources.

To access AIN services, visit AINDallas.org and click “Become a Client.” To volunteer or make a donation go to the website and click “Give.”

OLUMC
Oak Lawn United Methodist Church, 3014 Oak Lawn Ave., serves community meals to the unhoused Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. and the first and third Sundays from 4-6 p.m.

Its food pantry is available to provide essential groceries.

On Saturday, Nov. 22, Caven bars are holding a “onsie” bar crawl and canned food drive benefiting the Oak Lawn UMC food bank.

Visit OLUMC.org/DallasResponds to make a monetary donation to the church’s food programs or to purchase requested items off an Amazon wish list.

DHC
Dallas Hope Charities has been collecting items to commemorate Hunger & Homelessness Awareness Week, but the organization continues to have a need. Drop offs can be made from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. by appointment.

“Help us provide comfort and essential items to our neighbors as the weather gets colder,” DHC wrote in an email earlier this week.

To help keep people warm, DHC needs blankets, gloves, beanies, scarves and hand warmers. Gift cards are always welcome groceries, fast food or Amazon.

Northaven
Northaven United Methodist Church has joined with 40 other north Dallas congregations to create the North Dallas Shared ministries, recently renamed Now Forward. They operate a food pantry and offer a number of other services including medical and dental services, rent and utility assistance.

The food pantry is located at 2875 Merrell Road. To access services, you must register on first visit. To donate to the pantry, help fill the shopping cart in the atrium of Northaven UMC during business hours or on Sunday before or after services.

NTFB
And while the North Texas Food Bank continues to make sure 500 pantries and meals programs are well supplied, they’re also distributing food for Thanksgiving directly.

Teaming up with UNT Dallas, Tom Thumb/Albertsons and Japanese fashion retailer UNIQLO, the food bank will host a Thanksgiving food distribution event on Saturday, Nov. 22, from 9 a.m.-noon (or while supplies last) on the UNT Dallas campus, 7300 University Hills Blvd.

EAST TEXAS RESOURCES
Glass House Resource Center
In Tyler, The Glass House Resource Center is a lifeline for LGBTQ+ East Texans and anyone facing hardship. Along with its food pantry and clothing closet, the center offers life-skills classes, toiletries, bus passes, self-care days, computer access, vetted referrals, youth and trans support groups, art classes and free Special Health Resources testing.

With demand increasing, The Glass House is calling for donations of nonperishable food, gently used or new clothing, hygiene items, art supplies and bus passes. The center is open Sundays from noon-4 p.m. and Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. at 5604 Old Bullard Road, Ste. 104. For more information, email erin@alphabetarmy.org.

East Texas Food Bank
The East Texas Food Bank continues to stock pantries, schools and partner sites across 26 counties. Its Tyler Resource Center at 3201 Robertson Road is open from noon-2 p.m. and 4-6:30 p.m. Monday-Thursday, and noon-2 p.m. Fridays. Residents can search for the closest pantry at EastTexasFoodBank.org/FindFood-3.

PATH
PATH — People Attempting To Help — is a Tyler-based nonprofit serving more than 25,000 people each year. PATH’s Choice Food Pantry is the largest in the region, offering a dignified, grocery-style experience for about 140 families a day. PATH also runs the area’s only transitional housing program.

This year, the organization is holding its annual holiday food drive at the Walmart on South Broadway in Tyler Dec. 5–8 and is seeking volunteers to greet shoppers, distribute lists of needed items and collect donations.

Other food pantries
Other food pantries offering weekly access include:

• The King’s Storehouse Food Bank, 422 E. Oakwood St., open 7 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Thursday
• PATHway to Comfort Pantry at Tyler Junior College, 1121 S. Baxter Ave., open 10:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Wednesdays
• St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry & Clothing, 410 S. College Ave., open 8 a.m.-noon Tuesdays and Thursdays, and 6–7:30 p.m. on the first Monday of each month
• West Erwin Benevolence Center, 421 W. Erwin St., open 8:30-10:30 a.m. Wednesdays, with a free hot meal Mondays from 6-6:30 p.m.
• St. Paul Children’s Services Food Pantry, 1358 E. Richards St., open 1–4 p.m. Thursdays.
  Whether donating canned goods, volunteering at a drive or spreading the word about available services, East Texans have many ways to support one another this holiday season — and to ensure their neighbors have what they need to get through the colder months.