Dallas, September 16, 2025
News Summary
Catholic Charities Dallas has received the Mobile Engagement Award from the North Texas Food Bank for distributing nearly 8 million meals in the last year. The partnership, ongoing since 2011, has delivered over 34 million meals. With more than 115 distribution sites across nine counties, the organization provides crucial food assistance and wraparound services to enhance household stability, addressing growing food insecurity amid economic pressures.
Dallas — Catholic Charities Dallas has been recognized with the Mobile Engagement Award by the North Texas Food Bank after distributing nearly 8 million meals in the past year as part of a long-running partnership that has delivered more than 34 million meals since 2011.
Key facts and figures
The award highlights Catholic Charities Dallas’ extensive mobile food outreach, which operates more than 115 distribution sites across nine counties and delivers food six days a week, including Saturdays, to both urban and rural communities. Mobile efforts accounted for more than 5.4 million meals in fiscal year 2025 through partner-enabled initiatives. In addition to mobile distributions, Catholic Charities maintains three permanent food pantries and a range of supplemental services designed to address rising food insecurity tied to inflation and high local living costs.
Program operations and recent expansion
Catholic Charities’ mobile program is structured to reach neighborhoods and towns with limited regular access to food assistance. The organization provides scheduled distributions at neighborhood sites, rural stops and community centers. A new site, Joe’s Pantry at St. Jude Center–Park Central, operates on a client-choice model that allows families to select their own groceries; demand there has nearly doubled and the pantry currently serves about 100 families each day. Other targeted efforts include the Jan Pruitt Community Pantry, which serves specific zip codes to direct resources where they are most needed, and a container pantry in Ennis, Texas, that supplies more than 500,000 meals annually to rural residents.
Support services and funding
Meal distribution is paired with wraparound supports intended to increase household stability. These services include assistance with SNAP enrollment, financial literacy training and case management. Several pantry locations co-locate these supports—most notably at St. Jude Center–Park Central—so families can access multiple forms of help in a single visit. Capacity-building grants from the North Texas Food Bank, including the Capacity Building and Hope for Tomorrow Grants, have funded pantry infrastructure improvements and expanded case management capabilities.
Partnership history and impact
The collaboration between Catholic Charities Dallas and the North Texas Food Bank began in 2011 and has steadily expanded to meet increasing need across the region. The partnership’s cumulative distribution since inception exceeds 34 million meals, and recent annual totals reflect a continuation of that scale, with nearly 8 million meals provided in the most recent year. Leadership from both organizations has emphasized the role of coordinated delivery systems and local partnerships in maintaining regular access to food for thousands of households.
How to obtain assistance or more information
Individuals and families seeking help or wanting details on distribution schedules and pantry locations can find organizational information on the respective websites listed as plain text: www.ccdallas.org and www.ntfb.org. Those sites include scheduling, eligibility details for wraparound services and guidance on how to connect with local distributions.
Background context
Food insecurity in North Texas has been driven higher by economic pressures including inflation and increasing costs for housing, utilities and transportation. Mobile distribution models are used to reduce access barriers for populations with limited transportation, inconsistent work schedules or other constraints that make traditional pantry visits difficult. Client-choice models and co-located services aim to preserve dignity and address multiple needs in a single visit, reducing repeat barriers to assistance.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many meals did Catholic Charities Dallas distribute this year?
Catholic Charities Dallas distributed nearly 8 million meals in the most recent 12-month period reported.
How many meals have been delivered since the partnership began?
Since the partnership with the North Texas Food Bank began in 2011, the combined total has exceeded 34 million meals.
Where does the mobile program operate?
The mobile program operates more than 115 distribution sites across nine counties, serving both urban neighborhoods and rural communities six days a week.
What is Joe’s Pantry and how does it work?
Joe’s Pantry at St. Jude Center–Park Central is a client-choice pantry that allows families to select food items themselves. The pantry currently serves about 100 families per day and has seen demand nearly double since opening.
What additional services are available alongside food assistance?
Wraparound services include help applying for SNAP benefits, financial literacy training and case management. These services are often provided at the same sites as food distributions to simplify access.
How are these programs funded?
Funding and capacity-building support come from multiple sources, including grants from the North Texas Food Bank such as Capacity Building and Hope for Tomorrow Grants, which have financed pantry infrastructure and case management expansion.
How can I find distribution schedules or sign up for services?
Distribution schedules, pantry locations and service details are available by consulting the organizations’ informational resources listed as plain text: www.ccdallas.org and www.ntfb.org.
Program snapshot
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Additional Resources
- GlobeNewswire: Catholic Charities Dallas Delivers Nearly 8 Million Meals
- Plano Magazine: North Texas Food Bank Golden Fork Awards
- NBC DFW: Hunger Action Month
- Dallas News: Commentary on Child Hunger
- Google Search: Catholic Charities Dallas Food Assistance
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