More than 850 Dallas neighbors gathered at Albert C. Black Jr. STEAM Academy on June 10—and went home with free meals, free groceries and a safety net for the long summer ahead. 

Our Summer Meals Kickoff is an annual tradition that celebrates the start of summer with family-friendly games and crafts, snow cones and smiles—while also taking a stand against food insecurity in North Texas. 

Serving Dallas Families: Free Meals, Free Groceries and Summer Fun 

The Summer Meals Kickoff is an important component of our mission to improve access to education, income and health—the building blocks of opportunity. Hunger limits a child’s ability to learn, a worker’s ability to advance and a family’s ability to stay healthy. Food security initiatives are foundational to our work and directly support our Aspire United 2030 goals. 

This year’s event provided lots of fun and support for our neighbors, including: 

• 750+ hot meals served to kids and adults, prepared and served in partnership with Dallas Independent School District 

• 400 take-home grocery packs, each containing about 8 pounds of mixed produce, two gallons of milk, a watermelon and a snack box 

• 20+ United Way community partners were on-site with information on free summer meals and year-round food assistance 

• 100+ volunteers came out to directly benefit our North Texas neighbors 

• 2,000+ giveaways, including visors, sunglasses, fans, snack packs and STEM kits 

• Raffles for prizes including an iPad, AirPods, bikes and movie gift cards 

• A visit from Dallas Trinity FC’s mascot, Boots, and a performance by the Mavs ManiAACs 

• Snow cones, games, temporary tattoos, music and inflatables for kids of all ages 

Thank You to Our Partners 

Events like the Summer Meals Kickoff demonstrate the power of our collaborative approach to community impact, as we work together to ensure that children have access to the nutritious food and support they need all summer long.  

We’re deeply grateful to the sponsors who made this event possible: 

• Aspire United Volunteer Series Sponsor: Texas Instruments 

• Event Sponsors: PepsiCo, Vistra, Rocket Mortgage and DN Tanks 

Food Security Is a Challenge in North Texas 

During the summer, when federally funded school meal programs are paused, many local children become susceptible to food insecurity. Each year, our Summer Meals Kickoff unites hundreds of volunteers and corporate and community partners around a single belief: No child should have to go hungry in North Texas.  

Hunger is a significant challenge in Dallas County, where one in four children face food insecurity, meaning they don’t know where their next meal will come from. This summer, the situation is especially stressful for many local families, as their budgets are being stretched by rising food and gas prices. 

Hunger and food insecurity can be devastating to a child. Kids who don’t eat regularly may experience developmental delays and are more likely to fall behind in school, miss more class days and carry health consequences into adulthood. 

Food access is at the core of our mission to improve access to education, income and health. This summer—and throughout the year—it’s important for United Way, our supporters and partners, and the community as a whole to step in and fill the gap. 

As Ashley Douglas, vice president of the Southern Dallas Thrives initiative at United Way of Metropolitan Dallas, shared: 

“Being able to bring awareness about the accessibility of meals during the summer, especially during those key out-of-school times, is so important. To be able to serve families and have some sort of economic impact on their household, especially as we see increases in the cost of food, the cost of fuel—it’s really important. I hope that kids are able to have a fun and active and exciting summer, without having to worry about where their next meal will come from.”  

For volunteers like Stephanie, the Summer Meals Kickoff is a chance to see the direct impact of donating their time.  

“I volunteer with United Way because of all that they do in the community,” she said. “They’re so deeply involved and they have so many different programs, and I love to be involved in this community that they serve.”  

A big thank you to each volunteer and partner who helped connect local families with nutrition education, local resources and enrichment opportunities, strengthening the safety net for those facing food insecurity during the summer months. 

Help Keep North Texas Families Fed 

Together, we can build a North Texas where every child has the opportunity to grow, learn and succeed. Donate today to support food security programs that help children and families thrive—all year long. 

Give Now