News Archive

Local non-profits and churches are reporting fewer contributions are the cause for a less “Happy” Thanksgiving season for thousands of families. Contributions for three local  FEED 3 non profits reaching over 1,000 families were down to 500 families this year. Over 4,000 individuals are reached normally in their outreach during the holiday.

Added to this year for a less joyful holiday are the new reports showing more than 29 percent of the county’s children now live in poverty, a shocking increase from the 19.2 percent reported in 2000.

The new annual report released by the Children’s Medical Center should be troubling to all of the greater Dallas citizens, especially to the more than 40 zip codes in North Texas that make up the most wealthiest in the state.

 “The increasing neglect of our neediest children speak to a moral and ethical void in a city with nearly 85,000 millionaire households, and a city that ranks in the top ten cities with the most billionaires in the world.” said Randy Skinner, executive director of FEED 3.

Studies show impoverished children have a higher risk of dropping out of school, which vastly reduces their income-earning potential as adults. Drop outs then become a burden to the tax rolls on welfare or enter prison. As part of the FEED 3 model to eradicate poverty, Skinner is encouraging businesses to adopt failing schools with a proven success model, called Heart of a Champion. Schools that have used the character based education model have seen dramatic graduation rates.

“With over 145,000 local businesses in our area, surely we can find 1000 businesses to adopt our local public schools, and help implement a program that only costs $25 per student annually, and increases graduation rates.” said Skinner.  

The Children’s Medical Center report indicates increasing numbers of children face exposure to risk variables — health problems, delinquency, abuse, learning difficulties, drugs and crime — that threaten to destroy lives that have only just started.

FEED 3, the recent co-sponsor of the North Texas Hunger Summit, seeks to find business solutions to the more than 70 percent of Dallas County public school children rely on free and reduced-price meals for basic nutrition. He is meeting with local business leaders and asking them to come up with solutions that normally are left to local, state, and federal governmental program which require more and more taxes.

The highest concentration of children living in poverty is in southern Dallas, which also happens to be home to the largest food deserts — areas with no access to grocery stores within one mile. Skinner believes Dallas, a city INC magazine recognized as one of the best place for entrepreneurs, and is home to 25 Fortune 500 companies, should find its solution to the hunger crisis through creative business leadership.

“If we have the brain power to develop the best medical, educational institutions and can figure out how to have more malls than any other city, move billions of dollars through our inland port, surely, we can figure out how to beat hunger in South Dallas.” he reflected.

It is estimated that DFW will grow to a population of 9 million in the next 15 years. If the trend continues with a greater wealth gap between low income and high income wage earners, we could far surpass the 380,000 North Texas children facing hunger today.

“If we do not involve business leaders with fresh vision and innovation, we could easily be facing over one million hungry children in our city in 2030.” Skinner said. He continued: “What kind of message is that to send to world and national leaders…that Dallas is known as the face of hungry children.”