Hundreds of Youth Tackle Inner City Poverty and Blight
Community Leaders Praise Youth Choosing Service Over Vacation
Hundreds of inner city youth from Iowa, Georgia, Alabama, Pennsylvania, and Texas tackled impoverished areas of West Dallas, Oak Cliff, and Fair Park in a three week blitz. The campaign was a partnership with FEED 3 and Passport Youth Ministries. The youth are being hosted by Cliff Temple Baptist Church of Oak Cliff.
The projects included painting and repairing four damaged churches that have historic significance in low income communities. "These churches represent more than fifty to seventy-five years of service to these communities, and have an important role in the health of the inner city." said David Burroughs, founder and President of Passport, Inc. Other projects include repairing senior citizens homes out of code compliance, building a new deck at the Jacob House men's home, and landscaping for elderly and first time homeowners.
The youth raised support by holding garage sales which raised over $100,000 dollars to sponsor trips to four major US cities, which include the inner city of Dallas, Washington D.C., St. Louis, and San Francisco. Choosing to spend their summer funds and vacations to do service projects, rather than go to vacation hot spots where most of their peers chose, brought praise from local community leaders.
"It shows incredible character and a real understanding of Jesus message to serve others before your own interests" said Robert Lewis, a community activist in West Dallas. "I could write a book about these kids, they are energetic, hard workers, and sweet as can be. I have to make them take breaks!" he exclaimed, reflecting on the work ethic rare among some youth today.
Passports Summer Theme is about denying yourself, and your trip to the beach or mountains, taking risks, which requires courage and action by serving the inner city. The organization, founded in 1993, brings together youth from various denominational backgrounds to encounter Jesus through creative community experiences.
Don Parish, pastor and community leader in Fair Park also praised the youth for their work ethic and good spirits. "This dynamic program gives kids an opportunity to get close to real life situations in the inner city that most kids never see." said Parish. He continued: "These experiences in Fair Park and West Dallas will have a life time impact. Their labor of love is a reflection of Jesus washing the feet of others. They are washing our feet."
This project will return in 2012 in partnership with FEED 3. We need your help! We need your donation so we can finish these projects. Funds are needed for paint supplies, construction materials, food, etc. Donate here: For more information on how you can help with this project by service, funds or product please contact
Nearly 1,000 families receive groceries during
November 2010 outreach from FEED 3
More than 600 families received groceries for a week during thanksgiving and another 400 received groceries for a week during the month of November. As part of the FEED 3 program, sites are being chosen throughout high poverty areas to provide 100 families per week groceries. The first two sites are located in West Dallas,
with additional sites to be added as funding permits. During the Thanksgiving holidays, an additional site was added in Ft. Worth. Each family received a Turkey, Ham, hens, as well as fresh vegetables and fruit, along with additional groceries.
The FEED 3 project is the brainchild of a collaborative effort by Justice Revival Director Randy Skinner, Heart of A Champion Director Steve Riach, and creative consultant Russell Lake of Eterné Films. The project has three focuses: Body, Mind, and Soul. This past summer, the FEED 3 began working with People That Care, a Grand Prairie based nonprofit who has been helping coordinate the food distribution with national food providers. Ron Woodcock, coordinator for the FEED 3 project shared: "It is unbelievable the amount of families who are in need of food assistance in our city".
The Feed 3 segment that focuses on hunger is entitled Feed the Body. It consists of making sure the more than 280,000 children in the greater Dallas area that face hunger, have a meal. This is accomplished through the following:
- Make sure every needy family is signed up for government assistance to receive WIC or SNAP funds that are available, but not being utilized. In a new pilot project, the USDA, Health and Human Services and local support organizations are working with the FEED 3 to train local volunteers in neighborhoods to fast track the registration process. This will began next year.
- While families may receive government assistance, there is still a gap among working class families and the poor to make up the gap to feed their families. This is where the FEED 3 sites have been helpful. The goal is to place a FEED 3 site in each community, where needy families can receive additional food, especially fresh fruit and vegetables. Additional sites will be added as food and funds become available.
- Providing backpacks for children on weekends and summer months that have no food other than the school lunch programs. In 2010, FEED 3 provided food for hundreds of children through this program.
- The development of school gardens, community gardens, and urban farms among low-income communities. Also, the development of vegetable and fruit stands in areas where no grocery stores exist. These areas are called "food deserts" and exist in south Dallas with populations as large as 30,000 people with no healthy grocery chain stores.
Please consider helping us expand our network of feeding sites in the DFW area.
For more information on FEED 3, click here.
