It’s always a good time to give back to the community. And the holiday season is no exception. Whether it’s your money or time, there are plenty of ways to donate to organizations that feed, clothe and help North Texans get back on their feet.
Here are several Dallas-Fort Worth area groups to check out for upcoming and ongoing volunteer opportunities.
North Texas Food Bank
North Texas Food Bank serves more than 190,000 meals each day to children, families and seniors in the Dallas-Fort Worth area through a network of more than 1,000 programs and 200 partners in 13 counties, according to its website.
- Location: 4500 S. Cockrell Hill Rd. in Dallas
- Phone: 214-330-1396
- Email: info@ntfb.org
- Social: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram
How to volunteer
You can donate money in varying amounts, donate food as an individual or as a company and volunteer your time at the bank’s distribution center and mobile pantry. You can participate in various NTFB events or deliver food to elementary schools or homebound seniors, too.
The Stewpot
The Stewpot in downtown Dallas has been helping homeless and at risk women, men, and children since 1975. The organization serves breakfast, lunch and dinner seven days a week to the first 1,000 people who come by.
- Location: 1835 Young St. in Dallas
- Phone: 214-746-2785
- Email: thestewpot.org/contact-us
- Social: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram
How to volunteer
There are several ways to donate money. And there just as many ways to volunteer your time: serving meals, working with children and families, teaching art classes and more.
North Texas filmmaker Alan Govenar produced a documentary on The Stewpot, called "Serving Second Chances."
https://vimeo.com/105991445">Serving Second Chances - Trailer from https://vimeo.com/user8787364">Documentary Arts on Vimeo.
Catholic Charities of Dallas
Catholic Charities offers career and financial consultations and counseling, after-school programs for kids, pregnancy and adoption services and operates the Brady Senior Center. The organization also works with individuals to understand immigration law and processes as well as refugees.
- Location: 9461 LBJ Freeway, Suite 128 in Dallas
- Phone: 214-520-6590
- Email: ccdallas.org/contact-us
- Social: Facebook, Twitter
How to volunteer
To volunteer, you’ll need to create an account and attend an orientation to get to know the opportunities available. Or, you can donate at any time.
More: Here’s how to donate and volunteer with Catholic Charities of Fort Worth.
Tarrant Area Food Bank
Tarrant Area Food Bank is the source of donated food for hunger-relief charities and feeding programs in 13 North Texas counties, according to its website. The food bank serves more than 50,000 individuals in a typical week and more than 53,000 households in a typical month.
- Location: 2600 Cullen St. in Fort Worth
- Phone: 817-857-7100
- Email: tafb.org/contact
- Social: Facebook, Twitter
How to volunteer
Register to help the food bank with various food drives during the holidays. Ongoing volunteer opportunities include food packaging and distribution, teaching cooking classes, tending the community garden, working the community kitchen and assembling hunger-relief kits. Or, make a donation.
Community Food Bank
Community Food Bank has been helping fight hunger in Fort Worth for 35 years. The nonprofit began as a soup kitchen that local philanthropists, Arlen and Helen Voldness started in 1982, according to its website.
- Location: 3000 Galvez Ave. in Fort Worth
- Phone: (817) 924-3333
- Email: food-bank.org/contact-community-food-bank
- Social: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram
How to volunteer
You can help out the Community Food Bank by donating food, money and time at the distribution center and special events, or by walking a mile for hunger.
Denton Hunger Coalition
Denton Hunger Coalition gives away free food to hungry people at mobile pantry events every second Saturday of the month from 9-11 a.m. at the Serve Denton location.
- Location: 1100 Malone St. in Denton
- Email: dentonhunger@gmail.com
- Social: Facebook
How to volunteer
To participate in a mobile pantry event, just reserve your spot on this form. Jobs included registering volunteers, keeping the line moving and running food. The coalition also needs bilingual volunteers at these monthly events.
Denton Community Food Center
The food center, which opened in 1974, is completely operated by volunteers and funded by donors. Members of the food center can request food six times a year, no more than once a month. The service area includes 21 cities, towns and communities in 31 different zip codes of northern Denton County, according to its website.
- Location: 109 W. Sycamore St. in Denton
- Phone: 940-382-0807
- Email: dentoncfc.org/Pages/contactus.aspx
How to volunteer
The food center is open from 1-3 p.m. Monday through Friday. The majority of volunteer work — bagging groceries, sorting food, stocking shelves and serving clients — is done during regular business hours. That’s when you can donate food at the center, too. Here’s a list of what to bring. Also, you can make a monetary donation online.
More opportunities
Donate warm clothing, shoes and other items. Thrift stores like Goodwill, Salvation Army or a neighborhood church or donation box are good options.
Ring the bell for Salvation Army. Donations to the red kettle will go to people in need throughout the holidays.
This post has been updated. It was originally published on Nov. 24, 2016.
