Covid-19 Response - VT Seva Dallas feeds hungry children of low-income families

VT Seva Dallas team has chosen NTFB as its beneficiary as the Covid-19 crisis is making their services that much more critical. VT Seva is providing 7350 meals to children through North Texas Food Bank. Hundreds of VT Seva Dallas volunteers have been volunteering at North Texas Food Bank (NTFB) for the past 7 years.

As part of our volunteering at NTFB, we have logged over 4000 volunteer hours, sorted and packed more than 300,000 pounds of food that provides 250,000 meals. Through food drives, we contributed more than 20,000 pounds of food to support senior citizens and meals for school pantries.

Note: Pictures taken before Covid-19

Because of the lock-down in effect, the schools in Dallas Metroplex are closed. This disruption is causing strain on low-income families as many of them are also without work. Their children who rely on free and reduced-price school meal program are heavily impacted because schools are not open. There are more than 11,000 chronically hungry children across 300 schools in Dallas who depend on 'Food 4 Kids' and 'School Pantry' programs for food during weekends also throughout the school year and the summer months. NTFB has taken up the task of distributing and serving nutritious food to them by working with local school districts to ensure continuity of mentioned programs.

NTFB is following guidance from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the World Health Organization (WHO), their national partner Feeding America and local entities including the Dallas County Health & Human Services (DCHHS). The Food Bank is considered critical infrastructure, and is open during this challenging times. In order to safely meet the need for food assistance in North Texas region, the Food Bank has asked for support from the Texas National Guard. The food bank's volunteer and distribution efforts are continuing thanks to the support of the Texas National Guard.

Note: Picture taken before Covid-19

VT Seva Dallas also provided 750 N-95 masks to Newton Medical Center and other hospitals in highly affected cities to support our Doctors, Nurses and medical staff serving patients of COVID-19.

Our sister organization Vikasa Tarangini in India has been providing meals to migrant workers stranded due to COVID-19 lock down in India. VT Seva Dallas supported 6000 meals.

We thank you for your continued support.