Through our food access programming and advocacy work, United Way seeks to ensure that every child in North Texas can access healthy meals during the summer and provides vital support for hard-working families that rely on federal nutrition programs during the school year. Part of this work involves helping local meal providers raise awareness, increase meal sites and more effectively address child hunger in our community.
View the video to learn more about the impact of this important initiative.
Once Upon a Month™ delivers age-appropriate children’s books and accompanying parent guides each month to children ages 0 to 5. The engaging and colorful books make it easy and fun for parents and their kids to read together. The interactions stimulate curiosity, language development and learning skills, setting young children up to succeed in both school and life.
Watch the video to learn more about the impact of Once Upon a Month™, which is a partnership with The Boone Family Foundation and The Ferst Foundation for Childhood Literacy.
Pathways to Work is a workforce development program supported by JPMorgan Chase & Co. The initiative gives hardworking North Texans the training necessary to secure middle-skill jobs in the high-demand sectors of IT or healthcare. Each year, Pathways to Work enables thousands of North Texans to access better-paying jobs, improve their income and achieve greater financial security.
Watch the video to learn more about the impact of Pathways to Work.
Dallas Independent School District HIPPY (Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters)
A three-year school readiness and parent involvement program that includes both learning and play
Metrocare – Flourishing Family
Offers home visiting for children from birth to three years, empowering parents to become their children’s first teacher.
Lumin Education
Offers home visiting for children from birth to three years, empowering parents to become their children’s first teacher
What’s available?
Free in-home visits from a nurse, a volunteer, a trained professional or an experienced parent
Home visitors answer questions, offer advice, provide support and teach parents how to prepare children for kindergarten
Who’s eligible?
Families in Dallas and Collin counties
Soon-to-be parents and those with children under 5
About the Program
The Texas Home Visiting program is funded by the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services with matching funds from United Way of Metropolitan Dallas. The program enjoys the support of ChildCareGroup, Dallas ISD HIPPY, Family Compass and Lumin Education.
For more information, please contact Nailah Johnson, Senior Director, Texas Home Visiting Program & Maternal Health at United Way of Metropolitan Dallas
Tax time is an important financial moment, but many families miss the opportunity for a refund because they don’t file or make a mistake when they file. Our Free Tax Preparation program ensures working families can receive thousands of dollars each year from the Earned Income Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit to put towards savings and living expenses.
Benefits
Completely free
Safe, secure and led by volunteers who are IRS-certified tax preparers
Saves you money. Clients save an average of $350 in tax preparation and filing fees, plus get an average refund of $1,800 by claiming all their eligible tax credits and refunds. Last year, 231 volunteers helped 19,000 North Texas families receive a total of $15.1 million in refunds.
Documents Needed
Photo ID
Social Security or ITIN cards for you, your spouse and dependents
All W2 and 1099 forms to document income
Documentation of expenses paid for deductions
Health insurance documents (1095 A/B)
Checking/savings account number
Last year’s tax return
2026 Services Available
Free tax preparation services will begin opening in late January 2026. Please check individual organizations and websites for location details, operating hours and additional information.
Dallas County: Community Tax Centers, operated by Foundation Communities
The Dallas Community Tax Centers offer free tax preparation services to individuals earning under $69,000 per year and to households of2–4 people earning under $85,000 per year. The income limit increases by $5,000 for each additional household member.
Locations open Saturday, January 24, 2026. No appointment is required. All you have to do is bring your necessary documents.
Concord Church
6808 Pastor Bailey Drive
Dallas, TX 75237
(The Tax Center is located inside the Worship Center in the back of the building.)
Hours:
Monday- Thursday: 11 am to 7 pm
Saturday: 9 am to 3pm
Now-Forward
2875 Merrell Road
Dallas, TX 75229
Hours:
Tuesday- Friday: 11 am to 8 pm
Saturday: 9 am to 3pm
Collin County: Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Locations, operated by Catholic Charities Dallas
Services available at four locations from February 2 to April 15, 2026. All sites are open by appointment only.
MyFreeTaxes: MyFreeTaxes by United Way is a free, online-only tax filing program that assists people as theyfile their federal and state taxes. Available in English and Spanish to anyone with a household income of $79,000 or less. Mobile-friendly with a helpline and email support from IRS-trained specialists.
One free, age-appropriate children’s book every month for a year
Parent guides in English and Spanish
Who’s eligible?
Children from birth to age 5
Children living in Dallas, Collin, Kaufman or Rockwall County
English and Spanish readers
Our Partners
Once Upon a Month™ was created by United Way of Metropolitan Dallas and The Boone Family Foundation. The program is supported by these key partners: Health and Human Services Commission, HCA Foundation, Communities Foundation of Texas, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Baldridge Foundation, Hudson Foundation, VISTRA, Hattie Mae Foundation, Allstate Foundation and Hillcrest Foundation.
Money Smart (FDIC): Engaging games, podcasts and parent resources that help people of all ages enhance their financial skills and create positive banking relationships
Your Money, Your Goals (CFPB): A set of financial empowerment materials for organizations that help people meet their financial goals by increasing their knowledge, skills and resources
Money Management
Access resources that make it easier to manage your finances and build savings:
Albert: Financial advisory platform to track finances and get personalized recommendations
Digit: Automated savings tool that identifies small amounts of money that can moved from checking to emergency savings
ImmigrationHelp.org: Helps Dreamers and other low-income immigrants live and work in the United States by allowing them to prepare their immigration paperwork online for free and connecting them with essential financial services
Leap Fund: Helps Americans navigate “benefits cliffs,” which are situations where workers become ineligible for public benefits due to an increase in wages or hours worked
Let’s Get Set: Supports hardworking parents and families to secure and deploy their maximum tax benefits and create a path to enhanced financial stability
Debt Management
Explore these online tools that empower you to deal with debt so you can work toward financial security:
EarnUp: Automates loan payments and identifies earning opportunities while helping you save funds when possible
LendStreet: Debt consolidation service to avoid bankruptcy and create a path to paying off debt
Resolve: Customized advice for managing debt, including debt relief plans and connections to reputable debt counseling services
SoloSuit: Automated software that helps you respond to debt lawsuits
Summer: Helps student loan borrowers save on their loans by identifying and enrolling them in the best repayment and forgiveness programs
UpSolve: Provides free legal assistance, forms, and education to those with unmanageable debt
Home Ownership
These North Texas housing counseling agencies provide support and resources for people looking to purchase a home and are approved by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development:
Our Dallas County HOPES partners offer free parent education, home visiting, support services and connections to local resources for parents with children up to age 5.
Sign Up
Sign up through one of our partner agencies below:
AVANCE-North Texas
Alejanda Alfaro
Email: alejandra.alfaro@avance-dallas.org
Phone: 469-213-9896
Provides parent-child education programs and individualized case management to eligible families based on a needs assessment.
Help Me Grow
Email: lhasley@ccgroup.org
Connects parents to community resources through parent navigators who deliver individualized assistance.
Family Care Connection
Jessica Thomas
Email: jthomas@familycareconnection.org
Phone: 972-298-3366
Offers home visiting for children from birth to three years, empowering parents to become their children’s first teacher.
Lumin Education
Email: molly.sandoval@lumineducation.org
Phone: 214-824-8950 ext. 237
Offers home visiting for children from birth to three years, empowering parents to become their children’s first teacher.
About the Program
Dallas County HOPES (Healthy Outcomes through Early Prevention and Support) is funded by the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services and supported by Abide Women’s Health Services, Avance North Texas, ChildCareGroup, Family Care Connection, Lumin Education, and Metrocare Services.
For more information, please contact Caty Field, HOPES Director at United Way of Metropolitan Dallas.
