Committee Is Fighting Childhood Hunger This Holiday Season

In 2012, a group of women, led by Mary Ralph Lowe and Elizabeth Ray, came together to address the issue of hunger in the community. Thus, the Friend-to-Friend Committee was formed. Members began writing letters to their friends encouraging them to support Tarrant Area Food Bank (TAFB) programs for hungry children.

As the holiday season approaches, one in four children in TAFB’s service area are faced with hunger. Through Food for Kids, TAFB is able to provide children with nutritious food during and after school.

Kelly Ann Ewin, a past chair of the committee, said the sheer enormity of TAFB’s impact inspired her to support its work — and to ask her friends to do the same.

Three years after it began, the group decided to expand their effort. Their goal: raising money and awareness for the hungry children served by TAFB. The result: a Mahjong Game Day at River Crest Country Club in Fort Worth. The Chinese card game event has become an annual fundraiser to support the Food for Kids program.

Today, Friend-to-Friend Committee efforts have resulted in a profound $1.1 million raised for hungry children. That equates to 5.5 million meals, helping thousands of kids arrive at school each morning healthy and ready to learn.

Emily Ryan co-chairs the committee with her mother Patricia Ryan. As a teacher at Rivertree Academy, Emily has seen the effects of childhood hunger firsthand.

Nutritious food is the most essential school supply. Children need proper nourishment to learn and grow. Committed volunteers like Kelly Ann, Emily and Patricia make Tarrant Area Food Bank’s work possible.

“We must all give our time, talent and treasure in order to help our fellow man,” Kelly Ann said.

How You Can Help

Join our work to feed hungry children, families and seniors this holiday season and beyond. Here are three ways you can help right now:

• Make a donation to TAFB
• Register to volunteer
• Start a food drive or virtual food drive at teamtafb.org