New initiative strengthens community partnerships to help neighbors access nutritious food, essential resources, and support
FORT WORTH, Texas — Tarrant Area Food Bank (TAFB) is launching its More Than Food initiative, designed to help neighbors access nutritious food alongside the supportive services that contribute to long-term stability, improved health, and a better quality of life.
Through More Than Food, TAFB will work with community partners across its 13-county service area to better connect neighbors with resources such as healthcare, financial assistance, employment support, benefits navigation, and other essential services. The initiative reflects TAFB’s ongoing commitment to alleviate hunger and improve health while supporting the broader needs of individuals and families.
The launch comes at a critical time for North Texas families. Across TAFB’s 13-county service area, more than 572,000 neighbors experience food insecurity, including more than 187,000 children. Many families continue to face the pressure of inflation, higher food costs, rising household expenses, and reductions in federal support for nutrition programs. Together, these challenges underscore the need to strengthen local partnerships, reduce duplication of services where possible, and maximize community resources to improve access and outcomes for neighbors.
More Than Food is a cornerstone of Tarrant Area Food Bank’s three-year strategic plan, advancing its commitment to addressing food insecurity through stronger partnerships, expanded access, and holistic support for neighbors. The initiative builds on existing investments, including support for client-choice markets through Ready to Learn® school markets and Ready to Nourish™ partner agency markets, continued development of the regional Agricultural Hub, and the Community Resource Center, expected to open in 2027.
“Food is often the first need a family brings to us, but it is rarely the only one,” said Julie Butner, President and CEO of Tarrant Area Food Bank. “More Than Food reflects our commitment to serving neighbors with dignity and working alongside trusted community partners to connect them with the resources and support needed to achieve long-term stability.”
As the need for food assistance remains high and TAFB navigates a shifting funding environment, inflation, and recent reductions in nutrition programs, the organization is committed to stewarding every dollar, donation, and partnership responsibly and strategically. More Than Food supports this work by helping TAFB strengthen its network, reduce duplicated services where appropriate, and align resources with partners that can provide reliable food access, holistic support, and a dignified neighbor experience.
TAFB currently works with more than 560 partner agencies across its 13-county service area. As part of its strategic plan, TAFB is strengthening this network by aligning resources with partners that are best positioned to provide consistent, accessible, and dignified service. Effective September 1, 2026, this includes transitioning away from some temporary COVID-era partnership models, including mobile distributions and limited snack programs, as well as partnerships with limited capacity or infrequent hours of operation in areas where neighbors can access food and holistic support services through another TAFB partner agency. In these cases, agencies are being encouraged to collaborate, share resources, and coordinate service, so neighbors continue to have reliable access to support.
As food insecurity continues to evolve across North Texas, TAFB is taking thoughtful steps to strengthen its hunger-relief network and ensure resources are reaching neighbors in the most efficient and effective ways. More Than Food will support this work by encouraging greater coordination among partner agencies, reducing duplication where services overlap, expanding connections to wraparound support, and improving the overall experience for neighbors seeking assistance.
The initiative is part of TAFB’s broader strategy to build a stronger, more sustainable partner network. By aligning food access with holistic community support, TAFB and its partners can better respond to changing needs, maximize collective impact, and help ensure families can access support.
“Our partner agencies are essential to this work,” said Butner, “They know our communities, they understand the needs of our neighbors, and they play a critical role in helping families access food and support. More Than Food strengthens that shared commitment while helping us work together in the most coordinated and effective way possible.”
Neighbors seeking food assistance can visit www.tafb.org/find-food to locate nearby food resources.
More Than Food will continue to grow through collaboration with partner agencies, community organizations, healthcare providers, workforce partners, financial assistance programs, and other local resources committed to helping families thrive.
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About Tarrant Area Food Bank
TARRANT AREA FOOD BANK (TAFB): One of the largest charitable organizations in its 13-county service area, TAFB provides over 1 million nutritious meals weekly and food & nutrition education programs to those facing hunger through its network of 500+ partner agencies, volunteers, and donors. As a member of Feeding America, TAFB empowers communities to alleviate hunger and improve health. For more information, visit www.tafb.org.
Contact:
Jared Williams, Tarrant Area Food Bank
VP of External Affairs
Phone: 682-715-9793
Email: jared.williams@tafb.org