Pitching in

15 ways to give back as a family in Dallas-Fort Worth this summer

Bridget Le of Volunteer Services helped 8-year-old CCBD patient Cameron Davis with some constructive destruction

Get involved as a family this summer. We have a list of ideas.

Photo by Juan Pulido/Children's Medical Center

Dallas-Fort Worth is hot with charitable events and volunteer opportunities that will answer the family's burning question bound to be uttered more than once this summer: "What are we going to do today?"

There are tons of events and causes for family members of all ages to support during summer vacation. Let's get you started with 15 activities all around Dallas and Fort Worth, some of which come with set dates, while others offer flexibility and the opportunity to volunteer multiple times or causes.

For more ways to get involved, check out our charity events calendar, part of CultureMap's Charity Guide, which spotlights organizations that make our communities a better place.

Know of a charitable event that deserves the spotlight? Submit it here. You can also submit a charity to be included in our guide.

Brighter Biters at Wesley Rankin, June 11
Learn and teach the value of a meal by helping sort, pack (1-2:30 pm), and deliver (2:30-3:30 pm) fresh produce for families in West Dallas this summer. Volunteers come in all shapes in sizes — from ages 4 and up, to be exact. Wesley Rankin Community Center, Dallas.

Coffee with the Kids — Vogel Alcove Info Session and Tour, June 13
Learn about the work Vogel Alcove does to help children recover from the impact of homelessness. This event is free and open to the public, with RSVP required. Vogel Alcove, Dallas.

Wag, Walk & Roll, June 15
Support homeless pups by walking this one-mile track with or withour a pet. You can even "rent a pup" for this event. After the walk, enjoy Pet Pawlooza, a pet-friendly celebration with vendors, music, food, and more. Registration costs $10. Irving Animal Care Campus, Irving.

Project PB&J at Salvation Army, June 19
Build some mean peanut butter and jelly 'wiches as a family to feed homeless men, women, and children. Not a long commitment (1:30-3 pm). Volunteers should be 6 and older, and organizers ask for a donation of at least $10 to cover supplies. Salvation Army Christmas & Disaster Center, Dallas.

Shawnee Trail Demonstration Garden Work Day, June 26
Here's an event that'll have you going green. Learn about native plants and work with your hands at this event scheduled just before it gets too hot (9-11 am) and leaving plenty of time to stack your calendar for the rest of the day. This event is geared toward teens, but family and friends are welcome, too. Shawnee Trail Elementary, Frisco.

Trinity River Volunteer Day: June Cleanup & Seedball Workshop, June 29
Another eco-friendly event. The Trinity is a beautiful nature spot, but it doesn't stay that way on its own. This family-friendly morning (9-11 am) event features a trash cleanup, followed by a seedball workshop. Visit the event listing for more details on what to where, bring, and how to get to the location. Trinity Overlook Park, Dallas.

Family Compass presents The Great DFW Lip Sync Battle, July 18
This one's pretty self explanatory. Here's what else you need to know: this event raises awareness and works to prevent child abuse. Tickets range from $15 to $50, and it's open to all ages. Texas Theatre, Dallas.

8th Annual Rock & Bowl Memorial 9-Pin Tournament, July 27
Tap into your competitive nature for a good cause. This event benefits the Rock Joseph Memorial Scholarship, Inc. Adults are eligible for cash prizes, and younger contestants can win scholarships. Tournament tickets start at $10 for bumper youth. Forum Bowling Lanes, Grand Prairie.

Carter's House, various dates
This nonprofit helps build children's confidence by providing them with clothes for school. Carter's House needs volunteers throughout the summer to help plan and distribute items ahead of the coming school year. Multiple dates through early August are available. Park South YMCA, Dallas.

Doggie Daycation: Four Legged Best Friend for a Day, various dates
Dallas Animal Services offers its new Doggie Daycation Program, which gives pooches a day off from the shelter and some much-needed love and attention for the day. Organizers say the program is a great opportunity to enrich dogs' lives with a fun outing, meeting new people, and enjoying new experiences. Volunteers must be 18 and older, but the kids could join in the fun with that special guest. Dallas Animal Services (Volunteering), Dallas.

Buckner Shoes for Orphan Souls, various dates
This nonprofit offers rolling dates for volunteers to help organize clothing, hygiene kits, school supplies, and more for people in need. The opportunity is open to "anyone with a willingness to serve," the organization says. Buckner Center for Humanitarian Aid, Mesquite.

City of Fort Worth volunteer opportunities, various dates
Those who live closer to the west side of the Metroplex might want to adopt a park, street, or median, work with animals, assist at their local public library. There are plenty of options through the city to get involved as a family this summer. Check with the city for more information about those volunteer opportunities and plenty of others. Various locations, Fort Worth.

Help out at the Tarrant Area Food Bank, various dates
There are plenty of ways to pitch in, whether it's helping out at a mobile pantry, community garden, or with distribution of goods. For some projects, volunteers can be as young as 8 years old, while others are for adults only. Check with the food bank for more information. Tarrant Area Food Bank, Fort Worth.

Pitch in with Meals on Wheels of Tarrant County, various dates
Food insecurity is serious business, and organizations dedicated to ending it need a lot of help. Meals on Wheels is no different. Volunteers transport meals to some of the community's most vulnerable populations, homebound elderly individuals, and people with disabilities. The help doesn't stop there. Meals on Wheels also fights isolation and the loneliness these clients risk experiencing. Meals On Wheels, Inc. of Tarrant County, Fort Worth.

Fort Worth Botanic Garden, various dates
Spend the day surrounded by some of the most beautiful plant life at one of the most popular attractions in the city. The garden accepts volunteers as young as 14. Check the garden's website for more information and an application. Fort Worth Botanic Garden, Fort Worth.

charity-guide families charity

income analysis

This is the family income needed for one parent to stay home in Texas

Photo by Vitaly Gariev on Unsplash

With costs to raise a child soaring over $20,000 a year in Texas, some households might decide to have one parent work while the other stays at home to raise their child.

The cost of raising a child has ballooned in major metros like Dallas-Fort Worth, forcing many families to weight the choice between paying for child care or having one parent stay home full-time.

A recent analysis from SmartAsset determined the minimum income one parent needs to earn to support their partner staying at home to raise one child in all 50 states. In Texas, that amount is just under $75,000.

The study used the MIT Living Wage Calculator to compare the annual living wages needed for a household with two working adults and one child, and a household with one working adult, a stay-at-home parent, and one child. The study also calculated how much it would cost to raise a child with two working parents based on factors such as "food, housing, childcare, healthcare, transportation, incremental income taxes and other necessities."

A Texas household with one working parent would need to earn $74,734 a year to support their stay-at-home partner and their child, the report found. If both parents worked in the household, it would require an additional $10,504 in annual income to raise their child.

SmartAsset said the cost to raise a child in Texas in a two-working-parent household adds up to $23,587. Raising a child in North Texas, however, is slightly more affordable. A separate SmartAsset study from June 2025 determined it costs $22,337 to raise a child in Dallas-Fort Worth.

In the report's ranking of states with the highest minimum income needed to support a family with one working adult, a stay-at-home parent, and one child, Texas ranked 32nd on the list.

In other states like Massachusetts where raising a child can cost more than $40,000 a year, the report's author says families will look for ways to reduce any financial burdens.

"This often includes considerations around who’s going to work in the household, and whether young children will require paid daycare services while parents are occupied," the report said. "With tradeoffs abound, many parents might seek to understand the minimum income needed to keep the family afloat while allowing the other parent to stay home to raise a young child."

The top 10 states with the lowest minimum income threshold to support a three-person family on one income are:

West Virginia – $68,099
Arkansas – $68,141
Mississippi – $70,242
Kentucky – $70,408
North Dakota – $70,949
Oklahoma – $71,718
Ohio – $72,114
South Dakota – $72,218
Alabama – $72,238
Nebraska – $72,966

texas income smartasset family