DMN Charities’ summer campaign raises nearly $155,000 for programs that feed hungry children

The Dallas Morning News Charities raised nearly $ 155,000 through their Kids’ Summer Feeding Campaign, which benefited nine nonprofits in North Texas that run summer programs to feed hungry children.

The grand total surpassed the event’s target of $ 150,000 and far exceeded the $ 114,485 raised in the 2019 summer child feeding campaign.

Grant Moise, editor and president of The News, said he was very proud of the success of this year’s fundraiser.

“Our summer campaign is particularly important because many children in the D-FW area have limited access to healthy meals,” said Moise. “As many of us know, summer is meant to be a time of fun and play for children, not a time to worry about where to find their next meal.

“With the continued support of our generous members, these children will have one less worry this summer,” he said.

Raven Carr (left) and Eric Gallarza weigh food donations at Sharing Life Community Outreach in Mesquite.(Elias Valverde II / employee photographer)

This is the fourth summer feeding campaign of the DMN Charities. It ran from May 25 through July 7 and raised $ 154,952 through 272 gifts.

Last summer, the children’s summer feeding campaign for the benefit of the people of North Texas was stopped by raising money for 23 charities in North Texas hard hit by the coronavirus pandemic. More than $ 505,000 was raised during this trip.

Camille Grimes, managing director of DMN Charities, said any gift for this year’s campaign would make a difference to summer programs in support of children in North Texas.

“We are so grateful for our donors’ support to help our underserved communities,” said Grimes.

Gallarza loads food into a family’s vehicle during the Sharing Life drive-thru pantry event.(Elias Valverde II / employee photographer)

Karen Williams, Chair of the DMN Charities Board of Directors, also praised the donors for their benevolence and for helping the campaign achieve its goal.

“Exceeding this goal and what it means for our community is testament to the North Texans’ desire to help their neighbors,” said Williams.

The nine organizations receiving funding include All Community Outreach, Brother Bill’s Helping Hand, Cornerstone CDC, Crossroads Community Services, Frisco Family Services, Mission Oak Cliff, Network of Community Ministries, the North Texas Food Bank, and Sharing Life Community Outreach.

In May, Sharing Life began distributing backpacks with breakfast, lunch, and snacks to children in zip codes in Dallas, Kaufman, and Rockwall counties for five days on a weekly basis.

Teresa Jackson, CEO and Executive Director of Sharing Life Community Outreach, shows off some of the grocery rucksacks the nonprofit is handing out to hungry children.(Elias Valverde II / employee photographer)

Teresa Jackson, CEO and Executive Director of Sharing Life, said the agency’s Nourish2Flourish backpack program is important during the summer when children are not getting free meals during school.

“We want to keep building this program every summer, and we’ve been able to do so since the Dallas Morning News Charities launched this new summer initiative,” she said. “So it’s very helpful to us.”

Jackson said Sharing Life plans to distribute 8,000-10,000 backpacks by Aug. 5.

“We love being part of the charity family,” she said. “It is crucial to our success and we are grateful for the summer campaign because it gives these children a very special need.”

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