Nourishing Our Community

DJCF is coordinating with partner agencies to help those affected by the government shutdown.  Many federal employees have now missed their first full paycheck since the shutdown began on October 1.  In a couple of days, tens of thousands of Dallasites risk losing federal food and nutrition benefits, including those who rely on Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, formerly known as food stamps.

Below are some opportunities to support those most in need during the shutdown. This list is not exhaustive but helps support direct food-access needs as well as lobbying efforts to release SNAP benefit funding.

Dallas Jewish Community Foundation
Food Pantry

Jewish Family Service of Greater Dallas

The food pantry at Jewish Family Service of Greater Dallas has served families in our community for 75 years, through good times and bad. November 1 marks a crisis unlike anything we’ve seen. Dallas County has the fifth-largest food insecure population in the country, with 454,140 people struggling to access adequate food. Across the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area, 1.3 million people face food insecurity—ranking us third nationally, behind only Los Angeles and New York. One in five of our region’s children goes to bed hungry. JFS has become an essential partner in feeding families because SNAP benefits haven’t kept pace with inflation. We are now feeding families every two weeks versus once a month in the past.  This week, where we usually have one or two “walk ins” looking for assistance, we had 15 in one day.

JFS Food Pantry
Jewish Response to Hunger

MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger

Mazon is a national nonprofit fighting to end hunger in the United States. With over 47 million Americans currently facing food insecurity—including families, seniors, veterans, and children—MAZON views this crisis not just as a policy failure, but a moral one. Rooted in Jewish values and driven by justice, MAZON advocates for systemic change while supporting programs that ensure no one has to choose between food and survival. Together, we can build a future where no one in this country goes hungry.

Mazon
Food Bank

North Texas Food Bank

The North Texas Food Bank stands with neighbors who are facing food insecurity. 1 in 6 people in North Texas is food insecure and doesn’t know where their next meal is coming from.  A gift helps those impacted by the federal government shutdown and those in need of food access.

North Texas Food Bank
PWNA Food Support

Partnership With Native Americans

PWNA supports the nutritional needs of 45,000 people annually by delivering staple foods to pantries, soup kitchens, and Elderly Nutrition Centers; distributing emergency food boxes and fresh produce to Elders; and providing meals for families and communities during major holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas.

PWNA

Grantmaking

To make a grant through your donor-advised fund, simply log in to the My DJCF portal, where you can easily recommend grants to qualified organizations, track your giving history, and manage your fund. If you prefer personalized assistance or have specific questions, you are welcome to contact our Director of Fundholder Services, Mary Vaughan, who will be happy to guide you through the process and ensure your philanthropic goals are met with ease and confidence.

For questions about grantmaking, please contact:
Mary VaughanDirector of Fundholder Services
Mary Vaughan