Metrocrest Services is Building Relationships and Supporting Transformation

The North Texas Food Bank partner pantry in Carrollton offers a robust market plus a host of wraparound services.

^{Metrocrest Services’ pantry, photo courtesy Metrocrest Services}

While Flor fills a grocery bag with fresh apples on a recent morning at Metrocrest Services, her 2-year-old daughter stays occupied navigating a mini-shopping cart of her own around the produce bins.

“We love the vegetables and fruit,” says Flor, who shops alongside her daughter and two sons, ages 14 and 10. “Groceries are so expensive, especially produce.”

With the cost of food, rent and other necessities on the rise over the last few years, Flor says her husband’s construction wages simply don’t cover everything they need each month. Thankfully, a friend told her about Metrocrest Services, a North Texas Food Bank agency partner, and she has since been able to shop twice a month for fresh produce at its food pantry.

Flor’s family is among the around 1,200 who visit Metrocrest Services’ pantry each month, says Casen McMahan, director of nutrition services. The nonprofit moved into a new, 48,000-square-foot facility a year ago this summer and Casen says the additional space allowed for them to transition away from the drive-through pantry model they adopted during the pandemic in favor of a client choice-style grocery store that allows neighbors to select the foods they know they’ll use.

The result, he added, is that families take home up to 40% less food than when they were receiving boxes of pre-packed groceries in their trunk. About 90% of the food in their market comes from the North Texas Food Bank, and allowing for neighbor choice has helped them to order only what they know clients will select and use (often a lot of produce).

“With everything going up in price, it’s just really hard to budget and unfortunately, I think nutritious food is one of the first things to go,” Casen says. “We see a lot of seniors on fixed incomes but a lot of families also. And it’s not uncommon for someone to come in because of a single crisis—a car wreck or medical issue.”

Along with its pantry, which is open to eligible families in Carrollton, Addison, Farmers Branch, Coppell and the 75287 zip code in Denton County, Metrocrest serves as a pick-up site for senior (Commodity Supplemental Food Program) food boxes and it also offers a myriad of wraparound services meant to help neighbors move from crisis to stability. Behind the facility, they’ve also developed a teaching garden that produces some produce for neighbors.

“The pantry really is that starting point for people and our ultimate goal is to give them the tools and the resources they need to where they no longer need the support of the pantry,” says Caitlin Hardegree, marketing and communications director.

Volunteers and staff work to build relationships with neighbors who access the pantry or Metrocrest’s rental/utility assistance program so that they can connect them with other on-site services that might benefit them—everything from financial literacy courses to workforce coaching to a computer lab where neighbors can build a resume or complete an online job interview.

The new facility also has an office for NTFB, which offers assistance to neighbors applying for SNAP, and Metrocare, which provides mental health care.

Like NTFB, Caitlin says they’re dependent on volunteers to keep the pantry running and they’re fortunate to receive donations to supplement what neighbors need, including toiletries. By August 26, National Toilet Paper Day, they’re hoping to collect 70,000 rolls of toilet paper, which is what they distribute to neighbors every six months. Find out how to give here.

Metrocrest Services is one of the around 500 organizations that are part of NTFB’s Agency Network. They help ensure neighbors have access to the nutritious food they need in the communities where they work and live.

Metrocrest Services is Building Relationships and Supporting Transformation

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2024-08-26

McNeese Kids and its Annual Charity Golf Tournament are Fighting Child Hunger

The Sept. 23 tournament raises critical funds and awareness for the North Texas Food Bank and other nonprofits.

Jim McNeese and the team at McNeese Kids believe every child deserves the opportunity to be the best version of themselves. And that starts with food.

During The McNeese Kids Fourth Annual Charity Golf Tournament, September 23 at The Clubs at Stonebridge Ranch, they will raise crucial funds to combat child hunger, homelessness and abuse/neglect.

“We have the passion to make things better, but we know we can’t do it alone,” Jim says. “We strongly believe that working together, we can make an impact.”

To that end, McNeese Kids supports the North Texas Food Bank, Jonathan’s Place and The Samaritan Inn. In just the first three years, McNeese Kids has contributed more than 3,000 volunteer hours and over $300,000 to the children of North Texas.

“We have modeled McNeese Kids’ structure based on Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs motivational theory and focused our efforts on addressing the core dimensions of a child’s wellbeing. Hunger and food are at the base of the pyramid of things that we as humans must satisfy before we can even aspire to want more out of life,” says Nicole Katrana, Head of Marketing and Treasurer for McNeese Kids.

She and Jim said NTFB stood out as one of the largest hunger relief organizations in the region and that they were impressed with its facility, operations and model of partnering with around 500 pantries and community organizations (including Jonathan’s Place and Samaritan Inn) to ensure families have access to food. With one in five North Texas children facing hunger, they said they know access is paramount.

McNeese Kids has brought together groups to volunteer in NTFB’s Perot Family Campus warehouse and at partner food distributions, which Jim and Nicole says drives home the reality that hunger can impact any family.

“Hunger is not a faceless issue – and it’s not someone else’s problem,” says Nicole, adding that people needing food assistance may have suffered a job loss, a costly medical issue or simply rising living expenses. “The people suffering look just like you and me.”

The idea for McNeese Kids (and its logo) was born out of a dinner conversation with Jim’s sons, Cale and Caden. Now in college, the boys were 3 and 4 when they talked with their dad about how blessed their family was and how, one day, the family wanted to start a charity that would give back to other kids. Cale and Caden painted what is now McNeese Kids’ logo featuring a heart, a cross to signify their faith and their two handprints.

Throughout the year, the organization works to make an impact in its focus areas by raising awareness, fundraising and increasing volunteerism.

The golf tournament supports each of these areas by raising money that is allocated to partner nonprofits and The McNeese Kids Grant Program, providing an opportunity to volunteer with McNeese Kids during the tournament and raising awareness about the ways they serve children through signs and other initiatives built into the daylong event.

To learn more about the tournament, sponsorships or volunteer opportunities at the tournament and in the community throughout the year, visit mcneesekids.org.

2024-08-29

It’s Time for the 11th Annual Peanut Butter Drive

Support North Texas families and children facing hunger by contributing to NTFB’s annual campaign.

The North Texas Food Bank is excited to kick off its 11th Annual Peanut Butter Drive as part of Hunger Action Month. Running throughout September, this initiative aims to collect $300,000 and 100,000 pounds of peanut or nut butter to support local families and children in need.

This drive unites communities, businesses, and organizations across the region to gather jars of peanut butter, a nutritious, child-friendly, and shelf-stable food item. These donations will be distributed through NTFB’s Food 4 Kids backpack program and a network of nearly 500 food pantries and partner organizations.

For the second year in a row, the drive will encompass all 13 counties NTFB serves. Thanks to the efforts of local mayors and community leaders, the 2023 drive successfully collected over 343,000 pounds of peanut butter.

“The number of people struggling with hunger in our 13-county service area is staggering—equivalent to filling the American Airlines Center 39 times, with around 40% being children,” said Trisha Cunningham, NTFB President and CEO. “Last year, we achieved a historic milestone by distributing 106 million meals across our service area. This drive is crucial in helping us bridge the hunger gap through the simple yet impactful donation of peanut butter.”

Residents and businesses can contribute by donating jars of peanut butter or participating in a virtual food drive. Details for hosting and promoting a virtual drive with friends or colleagues are available here. Every dollar donated to the campaign helps NTFB purchase additional peanut butter for families in need.

Jars of any brand of 16-ounce plastic peanut or nut butter can be dropped off at the North Texas Food Bank’s Perot Family Campus, located at 3677 Mapleshade Lane in Plano. Additionally, State Fair of Texas attendees can support the drive by bringing two jars of peanut butter on opening day, September 27, to receive discounted admission.

2024-08-15

Neighbor Connect is Improving the Way We Serve

Serving Insights, known at NTFB as Neighbor Connect, simplifies the intake process while collecting data to improve our service to those facing hunger.

At the Salvation Army of North Texas’ Carr P. Collins Social Service Center, it takes just seconds for staff and volunteers to find a neighbors’ information in their system.

Once their profile is pulled up on an iPad, they have food loaded into their trunk and they’re on their way. The North Texas Food Bank partner has been using Feeding America’s Service Insights on MealConnect system, known at NTFB as Neighbor Connect, for nearly two years and staff say the program has made food distributions more efficient.

“It’s very effective and it’s sped up the process,” says Broderick Callaway, the case worker community liaison who oversees the pantry.

Before, Broderick says they were writing every neighbor’s information down and then entering it into their computer system after the food distribution had finished. Now, they spend five to 10 minutes with a neighbor during their first visit, and after that can quickly pull up their information and provide them with the food they need.

The Salvation Army is one of 45 partner agencies now using Service Insights, which is a free online app meant to simplify the intake process and allow everyone to better serve neighbors. Along with making intake quicker, the app gathers data that allows NTFB and its partners to know who we’re serving and how we might better serve them, says Garven Burton, NTFB Service Insights Specialist.

“You’re learning more about your neighbor and their household members,” Garven says.

With that knowledge, partners are equipped to refer people to other services that might support them on their path to self-sufficiency. If an individual visiting a pantry has diabetes, for example, the pantry can use that information to not only provide them with nutritious food but also referrals or information that might help them manage their condition. If Service Insights finds the neighbor is a veteran, the pantry may be able to refer them to additional support systems.

“I always say that food is a Band-Aid, it’s just a start,” Garven says. “For you to come to the pantry, there are other things affecting you.”

Agencies using the Service Insights app are provided with a one-time grant from NTFB that helps them cover the cost of iPads and equipment needed to use the app. Once a neighbor has registered, they need only show a QR code or their ID to be pulled up in the system on subsequent visits.

Garven says by 2028, NTFB is aiming to have all of its partners either using Service Insights or using their own system to ask the same questions of neighbors as Service. All information collected is kept confidential and secure, and reports on neighbors served never include names, addresses or personal information.

At the Salvation Army, staff and volunteers say it not only helps them to know more about who they’re serving, it also allows them build repour with neighbors.

“I love it. It’s a great, easy way for us to have our neighbors’ information in the system, and it helps us build relationships because they see that we know them,” says Adrian Gayden, education coordinator.

Agencies interested in adding Service Insights can learn more here.

The post first appeared on North Texas Food Bank.

2024-08-06

NTFB Kids Camp Builds the Next Generation of Hunger Fighters

The second annual day camp helped children understand and fight food insecurity in their community.

Whether planting radishes, sorting cans, getting the wiggles out with some jumping jacks or completing a scavenger hunt in the garden, there was never a dull moment at the North Texas Food Bank’s Kids Camp.

And while participating students say the Monday day camp was packed with fun, they also understood all of the activity was for a purpose: learning about hunger.

“I think it’s great that they do this and that they help people,” says Molly, a camper who was featured in this segment by NBC DFW.

She is among the around 200 students, ages 8 through 11, who spent one Monday this summer learning about how hunger impacts their community.

Now in its second year, the day camp is sponsored by Whataburger and is meant to help students learn that food insecurity can impact kids just like them. Through a can sorting volunteer activity, they’re also given the chance to see how they can make a difference in the fight against hunger.

During the day, children have the chance to participate in a planting activity and scavenger hunt in Jan’s Garden, a tour of NTFB’s Perot Family Campus, a nutrition and movement exercise and a puzzle activity that illustrates how some families don’t have enough money to cover all of their bills.

Landon, 8, says he learned during that activity that some people don’t have enough money to pay for all of their other bills and their groceries. Thankfully, NTFB and pantries in the community can help.

“The cans are for people who don’t have that much money and need their money for other bills,” he says.

Added his cousin Kinley, 7, “It’s important because if you don’t have something to eat, then you can’t survive.”

Daphne, 11, attended camp for a second time this summer and says the work NTFB does is really important.

“I don’t want people to be hungry,” she says.

Kids Camp ran for eight Mondays between June 3 and August 5.

2024-08-30

NTFB Recognizes Feeding Partners during Agency Partner Summit

The daylong event featured awards, learning sessions and the chance to hear about the impact made in FY24.

The North Texas Food Bank recognized partner agencies of the year as well as impact and emerging partners in each of the 13 counties it serves during its Agency Partner Summit last week.

Good Samaritans of Garland was honored as the Retail Partner of the Year, the Homeless Coalition of Dallas as the Emerging Partner of the Year and The Globe Life Garden at the Community Garden Kitchen of Collin County as the first-ever Garden Partner of the Year.

The organizations honored during the day were recognized for their exceptional efforts over the past year to meet the growing demand for food assistance, their ability to partner with retailers to distribute food to neighbors, their commitment to growth and their holistic approach to supporting neighbors in need. Emergent partners are those whose partnership is new to NTFB’s Feeding Network.

Impact partners of the year in each county included: Irving Cares (Dallas County), Our Daily Bread Royce City (Rockwall County), Local Good Center (Collin County), Heart of the City (Denton County), Compassion Corsicana (Navarro County), Manna House Midlothian (Ellis County), Kaufman Christian Help Center (Kaufman County), Hopkins County Community Chest (Hopkins County), Masterkey Ministries (Grayson County), McKenzie UMC Food Pantry (Fannin County), Downtown Food Pantry (Lamar County) and Hunt County Shared Ministries (Hunt County).

Emerging partners of the year in each county included: Vickery Meadows (Dallas County), The Resource Center (Dallas County), Rockwall Helping Hands (Rockwall County), Hope for the Cities (Collin County), Redeemer Church of Denton (Denton County), Hope to Go (Navarro County), Helping Hands of Ennis (Ellis County), First Baptist Church Crandall (Kaufman County), Pine Forest Pantry (Hopkins County), Harmony Missionary Baptist (Grayson County), Feeding Fannin—Ladonia and Bonham (Fannin County), CitySquare Paris (Lamar County) and Delta Hope House (Delta County). To read about each honoree, click here.

The awards were part of a daylong summit held August 23 at the Renaissance Richardson Hotel Conference Center. Sponsored by UnitedHealthcare, the event included learning sessions for NTFB partner pantries and community organizations plus updates on NTFB’s food distribution and strategy as well as spotlights on the work of a few partner agencies.

“Our ability to provide over 106 million physical meals last year is a testament to the vital partnerships with our network of 500 food pantries and organizations,” said Anne Readhimer, Chief Impact Officer. “Over 90 percent of the food we distribute in our 13-county region reaches those in need through these dedicated partners. It’s a privilege to work alongside such impactful agencies and recognize the significant difference they make in our communities.”

In the morning, NTFB President and CEO Trisha Cunningham shared an update on the state of hunger in North Texas, asking partners to join with the food bank in a rallying cry inspired by the 1980s anti-litter “Don’t Mess With Texas” campaign. “These are our neighbors we’re serving,” said Trisha, reminding those in attendance that our neighbors facing hunger include the people who shop with us and send their kids to school alongside ours. “As we serve this year, let’s remember that and say to ourselves, ‘Don’t mess with Texans!’”

Attendees also heard from Anne as well as NTFB’s data team about the state of the food bank and its initiatives moving forward, including continuing to support partners as they grow to meet the needs of our community and as they work to add wraparound services that target the underlying barriers to food security. Data showing where our neighbors facing hunger live also will continue to guide NTFB as it works to equitably distribute food.

During a panel discussion, leaders from NTFB’s distribution hubs, Sharing Life and Crossroads Community Services, gave their perspective on hunger and talked about some of the innovative ways they are serving neighbors. Those in attendance also had the chance to attend two breakout sessions that focused on various topics, including succession planning, mental health first aid and building donor-centric development plans.

To close the day, guests heard inspiring stories from leaders at the Resource Center in Dallas, Sir Kendrick’s Smile for Autism in Rice and Empowering the Masses in South Dallas. Founder and Executive Director for Feeding the Masses Tammy Johnson spoke about how they provide neighbors with access to food first and then offer so that they can partner with them to work toward self-sufficiency through things like the medical training certifications offered on-site. “We do that to provide them with a seed of hope for self-sustainability,” she said.