NBC 5 and Telemundo 39 are fighting hunger in North Texas.
Food insecurity guides the lives of many families in north Tarrant County. GRACE has been at the forefront to bring food into at-risk neighborhoods in our communities.
This year, NBC 5 and Telemundo 39 have joined the fight. A Project Innovation grant from the Comcast NBC Universal Foundation has helped GRACE extend programs to feed those in need.
Last week, NBC 5/Telemundo 39 joined GRACE at the Community Outreach Center in Grapevine to witness the Feed Our Kids and GRACE Grocery Giveaway programs in action. The segment was recorded for air tonight, Friday, July 31, during the nightly newscast.
“Hunger is everywhere,” said Stacy Pacholick, GRACE Chief Program Officer. “You’ll find it in our affluent neighborhoods, gated communities, condominiums. Wherever there are people, there will be hunger.”
Nearly 20% of the people in Tarrant County—1 in 5—experience some sort of food insecurity. One-quarter of the children attending Grapevine-Colleyville ISD schools are on the “free and reduced” lunch program.
“Food becomes negotiable,” Stacy said. “That’s the reality of many families living in our cities and neighborhoods. They are forced to decide between food and other necessities like rent, utilities, transportation, diapers, and daycare.”
Food is one of the pillars of GRACE wrap-around continuum of care: Food, Shelter, Clothing, Medical Care, and Emergency Services.
“GRACE steps in to bridge the gap of needs in various ways,” said Stacy.
Feed Our Kids provides nutritious meals during the summer months to hundreds of children who receive free or reduced lunch from the school cafeteria. Support from the community allows us to provide over 32,000 meals each summer.
GRACE Grocery Giveaway was established in 2015 to bring needed food supplies directly into at-risk neighborhoods.
“Our mobile food pantry travels to those same areas served by Feed Our Kids,” Stacy said. GRACE Grocery Giveaway delivers fresh produce, dairy, meats, breads, and other food and supplies directly to the families in need.
“Last year we were able to give over 3,000 bags filled with groceries to hungry families,” she said.
Feed Our Kids and GRACE Grocery Giveaway are intentionally very easy for families to access.
“If someone comes to GRACE and tells us they are hungry, we will find them something to eat,” said Stacy. “We are there for families, providing meals to their children and offering stability during an unstable time.”
Thanks to NBC 5 and Telemundo 39, GRACE will continue to bring food to families in need.
For more information on the ways GRACE combats hunger in our communities, please contact Stacy Pacholick, at 817-305-4636.
