(Special to The Dallas Examiner) – As hunger rates climb across North Texas, the free distribution provides critical support for students, families and the surrounding community
As Texas tops the nation in hunger, UNT Dallas’ monthly drive-thru food pantry helps meet a critical need for individuals and families across southern Dallas and beyond. In partnership with the North Texas Food Bank, UNT Dallas will host its next free food distribution event on Oct. 17, from 9 a.m. to noon (or while supplies last) at its southern Dallas campus at 7300 University Hills Blvd.
Future food pantry dates include Nov. 22, and Dec. 19 (subject to change).
So far this year, the UNT Dallas food pantry program has provided more than 191,000 pounds of food to approximately 11,900 individuals across the region. That’s in addition to the nearly 590,000 pounds of food distributed to nearly 18,000 people in 2024.
The demand remains significant. According to Feeding America’s “Map the Meal Gap” report, 1 in 6 North Texans lives in a household without consistent access to nutritious meals. The Dallas-Fort Worth area has the third-highest number of people facing hunger in the nation, including more than 441,000 children. The report also notes:
- Dallas County has the 5th largest (454,140 people) and Tarrant County has the 12th largest (337,350 people) food-insecure populations in the country.
- 60% of the 1.3 million people facing hunger in DFW live in Dallas and Tarrant counties (791,490 out of 1,316,420).
- Statewide, nearly 5.1 million Texans are affected.
Launched in 2020 during the pandemic, the UNT Dallas mobile food pantry has become a trusted monthly resource for both students and the broader community. The free drive-thru service is open to the public. Participants can remain in their vehicles and complete a brief intake form while volunteers load a box of food into their trunk.
Additional drive-thru mobile food distributions locations include:
- Dallas College Richland – Oct. 29
- Dallas College North Lake – Nov. 12
- Dallas College Brookhaven – Dec. 9
All additional drive locations begin at 10 a.m.