FOOD IS LOVE: WFWP TEXAS SPREADS THANKSGIVING CHEER

The WFWP Texas chapter decided several months ago to increase participation in meaningful projects that would benefit the local Dallas community. Projects were chosen based on how sustainable they would be in the long run. Inspired by the momentum created through the “Dress for Success” clothing drive in September, we determined to collect food and donate to a local food bank.

As we were approaching the end of the year, the Thanksgiving holiday was the ideal occasion to show that food is love. Of all the food banks in the area, we chose to partner with the City Thanksgiving Square food bank in downtown Dallas because of the admirable work they do to reduce the effects of poverty, such as their mobile meal program that delivers meals to poor families who cannot drive to the food bank.

This particular food bank is also located in a historically significant neighborhood. Thanks-Giving Square was created as a public space in the city center where different cultures and faith traditions can come together in the spirit of gratitude and celebrate together by sharing their values, thoughts and traditions beyond our differences. Inaugurated in 1976, it was recognized by then President Gerald Ford as “a major national shrine.”

WFWP members and others in our community joined together and collected three large and six medium boxes of canned food and other non-perishable items. The food was picked up on Monday, November 19th by the Thanksgiving Square food bank, who expressed deep gratitude.

We are very grateful to every member of our community who participated in donating the food items and proud of every effort that was put into the endeavor. Encouraged by this success, we intend to continue with this project and are even exploring the idea of launching a food bank of our own in our community.