While the pandemic certainly exacerbated food insecurity, access to healthy food has been a problem in many Dallas neighborhoods for a long time. One in six people in North Texas are seriously impacted by hunger. The latest available data from Feeding America has Dallas County with a 15.1 percent food insecurity rate (with child food insecurity hovering around 21.1 percent). The national rate is 11.5 percent.
It’s still dire. But when the need is great, organizations collaborate.
Goodr, an Atlanta-based food recovery and distribution company, is teaming up with the State Fair of Texas, United Way Dallas’ Southern Dallas Thrives, and Communities Foundation of Texas to help food-insecure South Dallas residents. Together the groups will run a series of mobile pop-up grocery markets where people can pick up fresh produce, meat, shelf-stable pantry goods, toiletries, and more.
The first of such pop-ups will be at Fair Park (2000 Gaisford St.), this Saturday, April 17 from noon until 2 p.m. Those who would like to get free groceries can register online.
Jasmine Crowe, who also has a TED Talk about what we’re getting wrong in the fight to end hunger, founded Goodr in 2017. Goodr has since popped up in cities all over the country, including Houston shortly after the February winter storms, to redirect over 5 million pounds of surplus food from businesses like restaurants, event centers, and airports to people who are food-insecure.
Understanding that people who face food insecurity often lack transportation resources—there are also other factors like low income and health issues that affect their ability to access healthy food options—Goodr also has a grocery delivery program. Folks in need of a free one-time grocery delivery can register online; delivery date is April 24.
The hope is that this pilot program is the first of many food distribution events between Goodr and community partners.
