There are several ways to support food pantries near you. (DC Studio/Shutterstock)
These Dallas-Fort Worth food pantries need volunteers and donations, especially during the holiday season.
It’s the most wonderful time of the year—but it can also be one of the most stressful, especially if you are experiencing food insecurity and don’t know where your next meal is coming from. Many food pantries in the area are working to help provide meals and other goods for people, but they need your help.
One out of every six North Texas residents is food insecure, according to the North Texas Food Bank, which has served 116 million physical meals in the 2025 fiscal year. That number might creep even higher as grocery costs rise.
Whether you need food assistance, want to help those who do, or both, there are many amazing organizations in Dallas-Fort Worth helping the local community. This holiday season, donate your time, money, and food to one of these food pantries. Just a small effort can make a huge difference in the lives of your friends and neighbors.
(For a more comprehensive list of food pantries near you, use North Texas Food Bank’s finder HERE.)
1. North Texas Food Bank
3677 Mapleshade Lane, Plano
One of the easiest ways to donate food to the North Texas Food Bank is by shopping from the North Texas Food Bank’s Amazon Wishlist. Fill your cart with items the organization needs, including canned foods, applesauce, peanut butter, cereal, granola, and other non-perishable items.
From there, just check out, and all the items will be sent to the food bank, which will distribute the items to those in need in North Texas.
You can also donate money, volunteer by sorting and packing food at the Distribution Center or helping load cars at a Mobile Distribution Center, or host a canned food drive, among other ways to give back.
2. Tarrant Area Food Bank
2600 Cullen Street, Fort Worth
The Tarrant Area Food Bank provided approximately 66 million meals to Tarrant-area kids, seniors, and families last year.
There are many ways to give your time at this food bank, including assisting with quality control, the community kitchen, the market, the gardens, mobile distributions, and more. You can help get food orders out to families, distribute vouchers so those in need can purchase local fresh produce, or help out at a local fundraising event.
Giving money is another valuable option, as is donating your vehicle and/or giving stocks and bonds.
3. The Salvation Army of North Texas
Multiple locations
We’ve all seen those people in Santa suits or red aprons ringing a bell to collect money for the Salvation Army. By volunteering to smile at people and wish them a Merry Christmas for just two hours, you can raise enough money in your red kettle to feed a family of four for a week!
You can also donate money, help organize food drives, and volunteer your time at a local Salvation Army food pantry.
4. The Stewpot
1610 S Malcolm X Blvd, Dallas
Work for a restaurant and want to donate food that would otherwise go to waste? The Stewpot is where you need to go.
The Stewpot helps with food recovery efforts in North Texas by preventing a surplus of edible food in the Dallas area from ending up in a dumpster or landfill. Since 2014, they have reclaimed over 1 million pounds of food from a variety of community partners. Only food prepared in a commercial kitchen and maintained at proper temperatures can be donated to the Stewpot.
You can help by donating food, giving money, and volunteering to help in the food pantry, make snack bags, serve meals at the Second Chance Café, and more.
5. Minnie’s Food Pantry
661 18th Street, Plano
Treating those in need with dignity is what Minnie’s Food Pantry is all about. They actually roll out a red carpet to serve those in need by providing food to people from all backgrounds and situations.
To help, you can host a local food drive, donate money ($1 equals three meals!) or food, purchase items on their Amazon Wishlist, or volunteer your time. Helpers are always needed to provide concierge service to clients, unload trucks, prepare cold bags, stock shelves, and sort items, among other things.
Across Minnie’s four locations in three states, the nonprofit has provided over 15 million healthy meals to families.
6. Dallas College Food Pantry
Various locations
Food pantries are located throughout Dallas College’s district, in partnership with the North Texas Food Bank, where students can come shop for free food during business hours. Every Friday, most locations host Community Pantry Days, where anyone in the community is welcome to come by and grab needed items for their families.
Dallas College also offers Drive-Thru Pantry Days once a month, which volunteers can sign up for to help unload, set up, and distribute food outside. You can also donate money or food, and students can volunteer time to work in a campus food pantry. Each campus also has its own Amazon Wishlist of needed items to make donations even easier.
7. The Food Pantry of Helping Hands
990 Williams Street, Suite C, Rockwall
Helping Hands in Rockwall operates a food pantry in partnership with North Texas Food Bank, which distributed more than 500,000 pounds of food to the community last year alone.
Donate through their Amazon Wishlist, drop off needed items at their food pantry, volunteer to help in the food pantry, or donate money.
8. Community Food Pantry of McKinney
307 Smith Street, McKinney
The Community Food Pantry of McKinney is a choice pantry (or a grocery store-style food pantry), which means that families can shop for just the items they want or need, at no cost to them, in a way that is welcoming and respectful.
Volunteer to help in the food pantry by signing up for a 2.5-hour weekly time slot or signing up for a special event. You can also donate most-needed items, shop their Amazon Wishlist, or send money to help with costs.
9. Local Good Pantry
741 S Sherman Street, Richardson
Serving over 900 people a day, the Local Good Pantry does good in the community. Kids as young as eight can volunteer with an adult to work in the pantry, prep for distribution, and help with client intake.
Other ways to help include donating food or other items, buying something on their Amazon Wishlist, or donating money.
This article first appeared on Good Info News Wire and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.
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