DALLAS, Texas. The University of North Texas at Dallas will host its monthly drive-thru food pantry on Friday, July 17, offering free groceries to students, families and residents across southern Dallas and surrounding communities facing food insecurity.
The event will take place from 8 to 11 a.m., or while supplies last, on the UNT Dallas campus at 7300 University Hills Blvd.
Held in partnership with the North Texas Food Bank, the monthly distribution allows participants to remain in their vehicles while volunteers load boxes of food into their trunks after they complete a brief intake form.
The food pantry was launched in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic and has continued as a regular community resource. According to the university, the program has distributed more than 105,000 pounds of food to nearly 7,000 people so far this year.
The event comes as food insecurity continues to affect families throughout North Texas. According to Feeding America's "Map the Meal Gap" report, one in six North Texans lacks consistent access to nutritious meals. The Dallas-Fort Worth area has the nation's third-largest population facing hunger, including more than 441,000 children.
The report also found that Dallas County has approximately 454,140 food-insecure residents, the fifth-highest total among U.S. counties, while Tarrant County ranks 12th with about 337,350 residents experiencing food insecurity. Together, Dallas and Tarrant counties account for roughly 60 percent of the more than 1.3 million people facing hunger across the Dallas-Fort Worth region.
The university also cited a recent Federal Reserve Bank of New York report that found food insecurity has increased significantly, particularly among lower-income households, families with young children and people with lower levels of education.
The drive-thru pantry is free and open to the public.
Additional food distribution events are currently scheduled for Aug. 28, Sept. 18, Oct. 16, Nov. 21 and Dec. 18, although dates are subject to change.
