Frequently Asked Questions

Fighting hunger is an ongoing battle as the population grows and the economy expands and contracts. Each week, Tarrant Area Food Banks is able to provide access to 1,000,000 nutritious meals through a network of over 450 pantries and area feeding programs.

Most of the food Tarrant Area Food Bank distributes is donated by the food industry, including growers, manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors and retailers. About 39 pounds out of every 100 pounds of food distributed to communities is a fresh fruit or vegetable.

Hunger doesn’t take a vacation. Food is needed all year round. We encourage groups to start virtual food drives and volunteer with us. All of these opportunities help put food on the table for hungry North Texans.

So your food donations can be used as quickly as possible, please drop off nonperishable food items directly with one of our partner agency locations. Use our Find Food Map to find your nearest partner

All non-perishable food items are accepted, but the greatest need is for healthy, kid-friendly foods and canned protein, fruits, and vegetables.

Tarrant Area Food Bank can only accept baby formula and cereal donations from the food industry. Jars of baby food must be in the original cases of the manufacturer.

Hunger can affect any one of us. Most people who seek food assistance have to swallow their pride before going to a pantry or soup kitchen. Many are hard-working, low-wage earners without health insurance who are trying to support families while dealing with medical bills, major car repairs or other situations that become financial crises because of their low incomes. Others are living on fixed incomes—people such as senior citizens or individuals with disabilities or chronic illnesses. Some are middle-income earners who have been laid off and have spent their savings while job hunting.

One of every four children in our service area struggles with hunger. In addition to eating groceries from pantries or even meals at soup kitchens, these children may receive food through one of TAFB’s Food for Kids programs.

Tarrant Area Food Bank does not provide food directly to people. We supply food across 13 counties to our Partner Agencies such as churches and community centers that then serve local individuals and families.

Enter your ZIP code in our Find Food map to view a list of local agencies that provide food assistance. Our Community Resources team also helps people apply for SNAP, financial assistance and other aid. Learn more.

In addition, individuals and families seeking food assistance can find help by calling the three-digit phone number 2-1-1 or if calling from a cell phone, dial 817-258-8100. These two phone numbers reach United Way’s information and referral staff, who can share information about local community resource agencies.

Update wording to In FY2022, volunteers donated 75,359 hours of their time to support our mission.

Yes. Individuals with court-ordered community service, including lawyer-referred service or teen court, may volunteer in Quality Control. An orientation prior to beginning their service hours is required. Learn more.

Teen Court recognizes donation of food and volunteer work performed at Tarrant Area Food Bank as community service.

Yes. Volunteering at TAFB is a great way to gain community service hours.

The majority of our financial support comes from donations made by individuals. We also receive grants from foundations and corporations.

Of Tarrant Area Food Bank’s total annual income, 94 percent goes toward operations, which includes food collection and distribution, direct feeding programs, community nutrition and culinary job training.

A food bank is a central clearinghouse for millions of pounds of food donated by the food/grocery industry, as well as community donation and government assistance. A food bank covers one or many counties, providing food to individual food pantries that then pass out the food to their local communities. Food pantries are smaller, independent operations (typically churches, community centers, or other local establishments) that distribute food they received from the food bank directly to their community.

One of every four children in our service area struggles with hunger. In addition to eating groceries from pantries or even meals at soup kitchens, these children may receive food through one of TAFB’s Food for Kids programs.

No. All food distributed from Tarrant Area Food Bank is done so free of charge to the client.

Enter your ZIP code in our Find Food map to view a list of local agencies that provide food assistance. Our Community Resources team also helps people apply for SNAP, financial assistance and other aid. Learn more.

In addition, individuals and families seeking food assistance can find help by calling the three-digit phone number 2-1-1 or if calling from a cell phone, dial 817-258-8100. These two phone numbers reach United Way’s information and referral staff, who can share information about local community resource agencies.

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