SNAP News

Dallas College will host 2 special food pantries to fill SNAP gap

Dallas College food pantry

Dallas College

In response to the U.S. government shutdown and accompanying loss of SNAP benefits, Dallas College will host two food pantries to distribute food on Saturday, November 8.

The pantries are a partnership between Dallas College and the North Texas Food Bank.

Drive-thru pantries are already held monthly at rotating Dallas College campuses and centers. But these are two additional pantry days. They'll be set up at two locations, and are open to the public; no ID is required. Hours will be Saturday, Nov. 8, from 9 am-5 pm.

The two locations are as follows:

Dallas College Pleasant Grove Center (First Floor, Room 102), 802 S. Buckner Rd., Dallas
Dallas College Mountain View Campus (S Building, Room S1016), 4849 W. Illinois Ave., Dallas

Boxes containing fresh produce, milk and pantry staples are distributed on a first-come, first-served basis.

Drive-Thru and Community Pantry Days
Campus-based food pantries are a key service provided to Dallas College students, helping to remove barriers to academic success. On Community Pantry Days, the college extends its support to surrounding communities. Anyone can stop by and pick up needed groceries, free of charge. Supplies range from snacks and meals to diapers.

Drive-Thru Pantry Days take place monthly at rotating locations, as follows:

November 14 - North Lake Campus, Parking Lot P3 (near T building)
December 9 - Brookhaven Campus, Parking Lot P3 (in front of S building)
January 27 - West Dallas Center
February 18 - Cedar Valley Campus, Parking Lot S1 (near M building)
March 4 - Mountain View Campus, Parking Lot P2 (in front of B building)
April 21 - Pleasant Grove Center
May 12 - North Lake Campus, Parking Lot P3 (near T building)
June 2 - Brookhaven Campus, Parking Lot P3 (in front of S building)

Community Pantry Days which take place on Fridays from 9 am-5 pm at these locations:

Brookhaven - J Building, Room J104
Cedar Valley - B Building, Room B116
Eastfield - B Building, Room B1702
Garland Center – Room 230
Irving Center – Room 1113
Lancaster Workforce Development Center – Room D122
Mountain View - S Building, Room S1016
North Lake - A Building, Room A262
Richland - El Paso Hall, Room E030
Pleasant Grove Center - Room 102
West Dallas Center - Room W163
Workforce Center at RedBird – Second Floor, Room RB251

$1 million donation
The Dallas County Commissioners Court announced a $1 million donation to the North Texas Food Bank to expand access to supplemental food assistance for Dallas County residents who have been furloughed or who are recipients of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) that are experiencing delayed and partial benefits.

The donation will provide immediate support for local families facing food insecurity, helping NTFB increase its capacity to distribute nutritious meals throughout the county with 25-lb bags of shelf-stable items as well as produce that can provide up to 30 meals.

charity

Bowls News

California acai bowl chain to open its first Texas location in Plano

Tru Bowl

A California chain that specializes in açai bowls is coming to Texas: Called Trū Bowl, it'll make its Texas debut in Plano, in the Shops at Granite Park in a storefront next door to Tiff's Treats, at 5760 SH-121 #145.

Bringing the concept to Texas is franchisee Lilian Nguyen, an accounting professional who became enamored with the concept while visiting family in Newport Beach.

“We had Trū Bowl every day for breakfast, it was so delicious," she says. "We came back home and we tried some local spots, but they were not the same."

They chose the buzzy Granite Park shopping center at the southeast corner of the Dallas North Tollway, surrounded by many corporate offices — the perfect market for the quick and healthy fare that Tru Bowl serves.

Tru Bowl was launched in the Los Angeles area in 2019 by entrepreneur Cyndi Schoenecker, who wanted to provide a quick and easy nutrient-dense meal; acai is the small purple berry from the acai palm tree, native to Central and South America, known as a "superfood" because it contains antioxidants and is believed to provide health and nutritional benefits.

Tru Bowl lets you craft-your-own bowls with a base that's pure açai.

“On its own, it tastes very refreshing and crisp, and not overly sweet," Nguyen says. "You can let the ingredients you choose determine of the sweetness of the bowl."

The shop will offer more than 10 signature bowls such as:

Trū Blue: Blue majik, açai, chia pudding, strawberry, banana, blueberry, coconut, hemp seed, goji berries, and honey
Rio Bowl: Extra açai, hemp granola, strawberry, blueberry, coconut, banana, and hemp hearts
EZ-Trū: Açai, maple cold oats, chia pudding. hemp heart granola, strawberries, bananas, blueberries

Prices range from $11-$15, depending on size. In addition to the açai bowls, they'll serve smoothies, cold brew, and matcha.

The Plano location will be the 21st in the chain, joining locations in Arizona and Illinois. It will accommodate dining-in with seating for about 22 people.

"Dallas has a strong food and wellness culture, and we think people will appreciate the fresh ingredients," Nguyen says.

openings