Dallas, September 23, 2025
News Summary
The State Fair of Texas is set to commence its annual festivities, featuring the ‘Feed the Need’ food drive in collaboration with the North Texas Food Bank. Attendees are encouraged to donate nonperishable food items to support local families facing food insecurity. With a history of over 4.8 million pounds of food donated since its inception in 1995, this initiative aims to address hunger in the community. Special admission discounts are available for those who contribute food donations during the fair.
Dallas — The State Fair of Texas will begin its annual celebration on Friday, September 26, 2025, and this year’s event will include the “Feed the Need” food drive in partnership with the North Texas Food Bank (NTFB) to collect nonperishable food items for families facing food insecurity. The exposition will run from September 26 through October 19, 2025, at Fair Park, and visitors are encouraged to bring donations and take part in volunteer opportunities coordinated with NTFB.
Key details up front
The Feed the Need initiative invites fairgoers to donate shelf-stable items throughout the run of the Fair. The partnership between the State Fair of Texas and the North Texas Food Bank (NTFB) was established in 1995 and has resulted in over 4.8 million pounds of canned food being donated to the community since its inception. Donations collected during the Fair last year provided approximately 165,000 meals. The campaign addresses local hunger needs in North Texas, where one in five children is at risk of hunger.
How visitors can contribute
Visitors can bring nonperishable food items to donation points at the Fair. Special admission discounts will be offered to guests who donate food on specified days: on Opening Day (September 26), guests bringing two 16-ounce jars of peanut butter will receive a $10 admission voucher, and on Wednesdays during the Fair, attendees donating five canned food items will receive a $7 admission voucher. Volunteers who help collect donations and share information about hunger relief through NTFB during the Fair will receive a “Feed the Need” T-shirt and a voucher for future Fair admission.
Volunteer roles and participation
Volunteer opportunities will be available for community members through NTFB during the Fair. Volunteers will assist with donation collection and outreach about hunger relief programs and resources. Participation includes receiving a “Feed the Need” T-shirt and a voucher for future Fair admission. Additional details and participation opportunities are available from NTFB resources, including the specific Fair participation page listed as www.ntfb.org/statefair.
NTFB capacity and focus
The North Texas Food Bank has been mitigating hunger for over 40 years, serving children, seniors, and families in North Texas with nutritious food. The food bank operates through an extensive network of 500 food pantries and organizations and delivered over 136 million meals last year. NTFB’s work includes hunger relief, nutrition education, advocacy for solutions to food insecurity, and support for partner organizations.
Event background and context
The State Fair of Texas has been a longstanding tradition since 1886, promoting agriculture, education, and community involvement. The Fair’s collaboration with NTFB, in place since 1995, is designed to channel visitor contributions toward local hunger relief during a period of high demand for pantry items. The Feed the Need drive is characterized by coordinated donation points on the Fairgrounds and volunteer-led collection efforts.
Why this initiative matters
The food drive is positioned as an important seasonal effort to supplement food bank supplies ahead of higher-need months. The Fair’s collection history—more than 4.8 million pounds of canned food collected since 1995 and donations providing approximately 165,000 meals during last year’s event—illustrates the scale of contributions tied to the exposition. Given that one in five children in the North Texas community is at risk of hunger, the drive aims to support vulnerable households by increasing available meals and resources through NTFB’s distribution network.
How to find more information
Additional details and participation opportunities can be found on the NTFB website at www.ntfb.org/statefair. The Fair’s schedule runs from September 26 through October 19, 2025, and the Feed the Need food drive activities will be active throughout the event.
FAQ
When will the State Fair of Texas begin?
The State Fair of Texas will begin its annual celebration on Friday, September 26, 2025.
How long will the State Fair of Texas run?
The exposition will run from September 26 through October 19, 2025, in Fair Park.
What is the name of the food drive at the Fair?
The Fair will feature the “Feed the Need” food drive in partnership with the North Texas Food Bank (NTFB).
Who is the food drive partner?
This year, the Fair will feature the “Feed the Need” food drive in partnership with the North Texas Food Bank (NTFB).
What should visitors bring to support the drive?
Visitors are encouraged to bring nonperishable food items to help families facing food insecurity.
How long have the State Fair and NTFB partnered?
The partnership between the Fair and NTFB was established in 1995 and has resulted in over 4.8 million pounds of canned food being donated to the community.
How much food has been donated through the partnership?
The partnership between the Fair and NTFB was established in 1995 and has resulted in over 4.8 million pounds of canned food being donated to the community.
How many meals did donations provide during the Fair last year?
Donations collected during the Fair last year provided approximately 165,000 meals.
What discounts are offered for donations?
On Opening Day (September 26), guests bringing two 16-ounce jars of peanut butter will receive a $10 admission voucher. On Wednesdays during the Fair, attendees donating five canned food items will receive a $7 admission voucher.
Are there volunteer opportunities?
Volunteer opportunities will be available for community members through NTFB during the Fair, where they will help collect donations and share information about hunger relief.
What will volunteers receive?
Volunteers who participate will receive a “Feed the Need” T-shirt and a voucher for future Fair admission.
How significant is this food drive?
Trisha Cunningham, President and CEO of NTFB, calls the food drive the largest canned food drive of the year, particularly vital for families in need.
What is the level of food insecurity among children in the area?
One in five children in the North Texas community is at risk of hunger, highlighting the importance of this initiative.
Where can I find more participation details?
Additional details and participation opportunities can be found on the NTFB website at www.ntfb.org/statefair.
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Event dates | September 26 through October 19, 2025 |
| Location | Fair Park, Dallas |
| Food drive name | “Feed the Need” |
| Partner organization | North Texas Food Bank (NTFB) |
| Partnership established | 1995 |
| Total canned food donated since partnership began | Over 4.8 million pounds |
| Meals from last year’s Fair donations | Approximately 165,000 meals |
| NTFB network size | 500 food pantries and organizations |
| Meals delivered last year by NTFB | Over 136 million meals |
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Additional Resources
- Dallas Voice: State Fair and NTFB Team Up
- Globe Newswire: NTFB and State Fair Food Drive
- NBC DFW: NTFB Launches Peanut Butter Drive
- Dallas News: NTFB Five-Year Plan
- Plano Magazine: NTFB Golden Fork Awards
- Wikipedia: Food Security
- Google Search: Food Insecurity in Texas
- Google Scholar: North Texas Food Bank
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Food Insecurity
- Google News: North Texas Food Bank
Author: STAFF HERE DALLAS WRITER
DALLAS STAFF WRITER The DALLAS STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREDallas.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Dallas, Dallas County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as the State Fair of Texas, Deep Ellum Arts Festival, and Dallas International Film Festival. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Dallas Regional Chamber and United Way of Metropolitan Dallas, plus leading businesses in telecommunications, aviation, and semiconductors that power the local economy such as AT&T, Southwest Airlines, and Texas Instruments. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREAustinTX.com, HERECollegeStation.com, HEREHouston.com, and HERESanAntonio.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Texas's dynamic landscape.
