HELP "FEED THE NEST" AT THE DENTON COMMUNITY FOOD CENTER!

EVERY DAY IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE FOR SOMEONE

Feed the nest and help us all make a difference! Feed the Nest is a service-learning team from the University of North Texas, integrating meaningful community service with instruction and reflection, while experiencing the value of civic responsibility and how it strengthens communities. We have chosen to bring awareness to the issue of food insecurity and wish to help the Denton Community Food Center increase their food supply to meet the community needs.

The Social Issue of Food Insecurity

Food insecurity is an official term from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), defined as "a lack of consistent access to enough nutritious food for an active and healthy life." Forty-seven million people (including 14 million children) experience food insecurity annually. (https://www.feedingamerica.org). Texas has a higher food insecurity rate than the national average, with more than 1 in 6 households reported as food insecure, and nearly 5.1 million Texans at risk for hunger. Unfortunately, Texas has become the leading state in food insecurity, recently surpassing California. (https://www.feedingtexas.org).

(Texas Food Insecurity)

https://www.researchgate.net/figure/mpact-Diagram-of-Food-Security_fig3_346012915

Hunger and poor nutrition are the greatest threats to health. Food insecurity is detrimental to children and can have a lifetime effect. Even short-term hunger episodes, not to mention only having non-nutritious food options, can cause lasting child development damage. It can contribute to chronic diseases such as asthma, anemia, and obesity, among other conditions, due to a lower quality diet.

One of our own team members has experienced food insecurity first-hand, and has endured the consequences of how it can affect the life of a child and beyond. As our team member relayed:

“Growing up in a family of four with a single mother, I faced significant challenges due to financial struggles. My mother worked tirelessly to provide for my two siblings and me, but often she could only afford the cheapest, most non-nutritious foods. Many meals consisted of Vienna sausages and ramen noodles, leaving us with constant food insecurities. This situation took a toll on our health, as we struggled with our weight for years, affected by the limited and unhealthy food options available to us.”

The Wonders of the Denton Community Food Center

The Denton Community Food Center (DCFC) addresses hunger insecurity in Northern Denton County. According to Serve Denton, 21% of the Denton County residents are food insecure, meaning they don’t know where their next meal will come from. And the number of people facing hunger in Denton County grew 26% from 2021 to 2022! The DCFC’s services are vital in relieving this problem, especially with the ongoing economic instability and population increases. Without organizations like DCFC, many families, including those with school-aged children, would face greater hardships impacting their health, education, and ability to thrive.

Since 1974, DCFC’s mission has been to provide emergency food assistance from a central community storehouse to needy families and individuals in the City of Denton and Northern Denton County. Since March of 2020, DCFC has served 59,157 families in this endeavor, who qualify by USDA/TDA standards. According to their program, each qualified household receives approximately enough food to feed a family of four for one week. Each family can visit DCFC once a month. (https://www.Dentoncfc.org).

According to Mike Paulson (Vice Chair, Board of Directors) and Dallas Newell (Volunteer Coordinator), DCFC is a non-profit organization that has been in operation for the last 50 years and is strictly 100% volunteer-based, which sets them apart from other organizations. DCFC relies heavily on monetary donations, as well as support from the Tarrant Area Food Bank. Not only does DCFC provide food for those in need, but they also allocate items for the homeless, allowing them to serve two needs in the community.

Mike Paulson further explains that DCFC does not look at opportunities as “fundraising” but instead as “friendraising." This reference invites a real community to support an organization such as this.

(The Spirit Of Denton Community Food Center)

Critical Issue Facing the Aid for Denton County and How We Can Help

For the past 42 years, the North Texas Food Bank and the Tarrant Area Food Bank (TAFB) have jointly served neighbors facing hunger in Denton County. On August 14, 2024, the two food banks announced that they have agreed to transition the support of Denton County entirely to the TAFB on January 1, 2025. This decision came after two years of research and evaluation on the best way to close the hunger gap in Denton County. (https://tafb.org/news/transition-of-denton-county-services/).

With this upcoming important change, there are some major concerns if TAFB can keep up with the needs of the DCFC all by itself. Monetary support will be crucial during this transition and for future success. Cash donations are the most versatile, as they enable DCFC to buy the food items they need. DCFC purchases 70% of its food from cash donations. For every $10 donated, $60-$70 of food from TAFB can be purchased. But since TAFB will soon be the sole support for Denton County, this supply will be heavily challenged, and DCFC may need extra funds to handle the burden.

So this is how we can help! Our donations will allow DCFC to continue its work of ensuring no community member goes hungry and alleviating food insecurity for Denton families. This great work not only meets the immediate needs of Denton County, but also contributes to the long-term stability and well-being of the community as a whole.

MAKE A DIFFERENCE TODAY! HELP US FEED THE NEST!

For more information about the Denton Community Food Center:

Website: https://www.dentoncfc.org/

Address: 306 N. Loop 288 #400, Denton, Texas 76209-4887