As the government shutdown drags on, as Speaker of the House Mike Johnsoncontinues to keep the House adjourned to avoid seating newly-elected U.S. Rep. Adelita Grijalva, as as Donald Trump continues to defy court orders to release funds for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, charitable organizations and even businesses are stepping up to try and fill the gap to keep millions of Americans from going hungry this holiday season.
Chicken Salad Chick and TGI Fridays restaurant chains are both offering free meals for children while the government shutdown continues. Eduardo’s Pastry Kitchen in Fort Worth has set up a food pantry inside the story and is accepting donations to stock the pantry.
North Texas Food Bank this week announced Container Pantry, sponsored by American Heart Association and Medical City Healthcare and supported by the HCA Healthcare Foundation. And here at Dallas Voice, we are collecting donations for the Cathedral of Hope food pantry through Nov. 30.
Chicken Salad Chick
Chicken Salad Chick locations in various regions are offering free kid’s meals to support families affected by the SNAP benefit suspension during the period that SNAP benefits remain suspended. There are some limitations, including one meal per child, children must be present and dine-in meals only. This initiative aims to ensure children do not go hungry, regardless of the political nature of the issue.
In many cases, no purchase is required to receive the free meal, and the offer is provided no questions asked.
According to the company, this is a way for Chicken Salad Chick to “spread joy, enrich lives and serve others and ensure no child goes hungry.
Most participating locations are publicizing theilr efforts on their social media pages, and you can call your local Chicken Salad Chick to confirm if they are participating and to learn about any specific restrictions or details.
TGI Fridays
As the government shutdown continues, TGI Fridays is stepping up to support families affected by the recent disruption of SNAP benefits with a special Kids Eat Free offer, the company announced today (Wednesday, Nov. 5).
From Thursday, Nov. 6, through Nov. 20, families can get one complimentary kids meal with each adult entrée purchase ($10 minimum) at participating U.S. locations. After Nov. 20, the offer will continue every Tuesday until the end of the year.
The offer is available for customers dining in during the two-week period and limited to one kid’s meal per adult per day. Guests must present a valid Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) Card to be eligible for the offer.
Eduardo’s Pastry Kitchen Food Pantry
Bakery owner Eduardo has established a food pantry inside his bakery at 5950 River Oaks Blvd. in Fort Worth, for anyone who needs food. “This is for you, for the community,” he said, noting that he has purchased some of the items himself but that the community has also stepped up to help stock the shelves. “This is for everybody; there is no judgment here,” he added.
The Food Pantry is operational whenever the bakery is open, which is noon-7 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday.
NTFB Container Pantry
The North Texas Food Bank (NTFB) unveiled its newly co-branded Container Pantry this week, sponsored by the American Heart Association and Medical City Healthcare and supported by the HCA Healthcare Foundation, which together provided a $50,000 sponsorship to NTFB’s Container Pantry initiative. This partnership has “enabled the placement of the branded Container Pantry at Uplift Infinity Preparatory in Irving as well as a Produce Pod in McKinney,” according to a NTFB email. Both pantries are increasing the availability of fresh produce for families facing hunger at a time when 1 in 6 North Texans and 1 in 5 children experience food insecurity, the press release notes.
The Container Pantries, introduced by NTFB in 2021, provide a short-term solution to address unmet demand for food assistance while a longer-term solution is being assessed. Each Container Pantry has the capacity to hold roughly 3,000 pounds of food, including fresh produce and pantry staples. If operational three days a week, each Container Pantry can provide access to 360,000 nutritious meals a year.
The Container Pantry is stocked with nutritious food and is set up to allow neighbors to walk through and select the foods they know their families need and can use. Uplift Infinity also hosts a monthly drive-through food distribution. Since first partnering with NTFB in 2023, Uplift Infinity has provided families and students with access to over 115,000 meals.
Since the government shutdown began on Oct. 1, the Container Pantry has also enabled Uplift Infinity to meet a surge in demand for food assistance from families, whether because of lost federal wages or the loss of SNAP benefits. As an integral part of the Uplift community, the Container Pantry has provided readily accessible support that families can easily access during times of crisis.
Dallas Voice Food Drive
Dallas Voice will be collecting canned good and non-perishable through World AIDS Day for Cathedral of Hope’s Food Pantry, which provides a lifeline for North Texas individuals and families in need.
We invite you to drop off your donations at our office, 1825 Market Center Blvd., Ste. 240, through Dec. 1.
Together, as a community, we can fill shelves, lift spirits and feed hope. Give what you can, because every can counts.
— Tammye Nash