Here are some ways to give back this holiday season in Oak Cliff and southern Dallas

This year’s holiday season will look different for many families, but organizations across Dallas are working to serve just like any other year. Here are some of those groups in Oak Cliff and South Dallas, with information on how to get involved.

The North Texas Food Bank

The North Texas Food Bank has been serving the hungry in Dallas and North Texas since 1982. Since the start of the pandemic, the food bank has adapted its packaging and distribution model to meet health and safety standards, while also increasing distribution and delivery to meet a greater need.

The group’s website has an interactive map of nearby partner food pantries as well as a Mobile Pantry schedule.

Food donations can be given through local partner drives or dropped off at the Perot Family Campus on 3677 Mapleshade Lane in Plano, and monetary donation can be processed on online. Those who are interested in volunteering with at a mobile pantry, as a social media ambassador or through another program can register and find event dates on the organization’s volunteer calendar.

Giving Tuesday

Giving Tuesday is a “global generosity movement” encouraging people to give back to their communities on Dec. 1, the Tuesday after Thanksgiving. Last year’s event raised $511 million in the U.S., according to Giving Tuesday’s website.

Participating organizations and nonprofits within Dallas are encouraging people to donate, and partners like the North Texas Food Bank will be matching donations up to $100,000, according to the food bank’s site.

The YMCA of Metropolitan Dallas & PepsiCo Food For Good

The YMCA of Metropolitan Dallas has partnered with PepsiCo’s Food for Good program to provide free, nutritious meals and snacks to all children in its childcare programs every day. So far, the program has provided children with over 35,000 meals and snacks, according to a YMCA press release.

At the Park South YMCA on 2500 Romine Ave., food is still being delivered daily. The YMCA has also offered meal and grocery giveaways, health screenings, clothing drives, and other community events to fill needs that have been amplified by the pandemic, YMCA Executive Director Rodrigua Ross told The Dallas Morning News.

“We’ve opened up a couple of our branches as access points for people to get wi-fi and clean water, or access a bathroom,” Rodrigua said. “We just try to stand in the gaps and get folks whatever they need.”

In working with YMCA and other local partners, Food for Good has been able to improve and increase its food distribution to children by as much as 10 times the amount of past years, said Food for Good’s senior project mananger Doug Hargis.

“We’re devoting a lot more to developing those community partner, those suppliers,” Hargis said. “We’re going to work a lot more with local partners on their needs and their community.”

Those who wish to donate to the YMCA or learn how to get involved can do so on the Y’s website, or by emailing rross@ymcadallas.org. Food for Good is not directly accepting new volunteers due to pandemic guidelines, but those who wish to be involved can visit the program’s web site and search for local partners to work with.

The S.M. Wright Foundation

The S.M. Wright Foundation works year-round to serve Dallas families and children, and its annual Christmas in the Park event at Fair Park is one of Dallas’ largest holiday donation events of the year, giving away of food, toys, clothes and more. This year’s 22nd Christmas in the Park anticipates hosting 25,000 families through an outdoors, drive-thru style event at 8:30 a.m. on Dec. 19 at the Fair Park Automobile Building.

“We are here to serve, and we need all the help we can get,” said S.M. Wright II, who is the foundation’s co-founder, president and CEO. “Volunteers, sponsorships…we’ll be at Fair Park, and we’ll be sharing love to a lot of families during this crisis.”

Family registration for the event reopens on Dec. 1 at 8:30 a.m. on the Christmas in the Park website, and will close once spaces are filled.

Those who wish to volunteer to hand-out gifts and support the event can register, and those who wish to donate can visit the S.M. Wright foundation’s website.

Trinity Church & Mint Dentistry

Every Sunday until the end of the year, Trinity Church will be hosting a drive-thru distribution of 500 meals at its Cedar Hill campus at 1231 E. Pleasant Run Rd. in partnership with Mint Dentistry. The events will be first come, first served, and will take place from 8:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. or until all meals are distributed.

Those who wish to volunteer for bagging or distribution can learn more and sign up on the church’s website.