The North Texas Food Bank (NTFB) is joining its extensive network of 500 food pantries and organizations for Hunger Action Month this September.
Its goal is to inspire people to join the fight to end hunger and raise awareness of people experiencing food insecurity across North Texas.
Texas now has the highest number of people facing hunger in the nation, with nearly 5 million individuals experiencing food insecurity.
In NTFB’s 13-county service area, which ranks as the country’s fourth-largest region for food insecurity, nearly 778,000 people struggle with hunger.
Trisha Cunningham, CEO and President of the North Texas Food Bank, said, “In North Texas, where the number of individuals facing hunger surpasses the populations of cities like Seattle and San Francisco, the most alarming statistic is that nearly 40 percent of those affected are children. This reality is simply unacceptable.”
Despite inflation stabilizing and low unemployment rates, the cost of essentials remains alarmingly high. Since 2021, grocery prices have surged by 21 percent, and Texans in the lowest income bracket now allocate up to 30 percent of their income just for food. With rent and transportation costs taking up another 40 percent of their budgets, families in every zip code are often forced to choose between buying groceries and paying for other necessities like utilities, childcare or medicine.
The demand for food assistance today is even greater than during the pandemic’s peak. In Grayson County alone, nearly 22,000 people, including more than 7,300 children, are grappling with hunger. This results in a child food insecurity rate of 22.7 percent in the county.
Last year, through the feeding network of the following partner organizations in Grayson County, NTFB provided 4.3 million pounds of food, translating to more than 3.6 million nutritious meals.
North Texas Food Bank Partner Agencies in Grayson County
Bells: Community Care Center
Denison: Barnabas Center; Texoma Family Shelter, Texoma Family Shelter Pantry; Denison Helping Hands; New Beginning Fellowship
Gordonville: Sherwood Shores Baptist Church
Howe: Feed My Sheep
Sherman: Children’s Express; Covenant Presbyterian Church of Sherman; Four Rivers Outreach Inc Residential; Four Rivers Outreach Inc Pantry; Grand Central Station; Harmony Missionary Baptist; Masterkey Food Assistance; North Texas Youth Connection; Salvation Army Sherman Pantry; Salvation Army Sherman Shelter; The Market Depot
Tom Bean: First Baptist Church Tom Bean
Whitesboro: Your Neighbor’s House
“Hunger Action Month serves as a powerful reminder that community involvement—whether through direct action, volunteering or advocacy—is vital in transforming the lives of our neighbors. No matter how small, every effort brings us closer to a healthy, hunger-free North Texas. We invite you to support the fight against hunger by contributing to Grayson County food pantries and other organizations that address this issue,” Cunningham said.
For more information on how to help, volunteer, or advocate, please visit www.ntfb.org or contact one of the local feeding partners listed above. To find nearby food assistance, visit www.ntfb.org/findfood.