The Meal Gap

A newly released report confirms what we’re seeing every day at Community Link: more of our neighbors are struggling to put enough food on the table.

According to Feeding America’s latest Map the Meal Gap study, Texas leads the nation in hunger. In our area alone, food insecurity has increased 35% since 2019 — more than three times the rate of population growth.

And children are being hit especially hard. Today, 1 in 4 children across DFW faces food insecurity.

One of the more sobering parts of this report: Since these numbers are based on rates from 2024, they don’t include the impact of the pause and changes to the SNAP program last year.

These aren’t just numbers on a report. They are families right here in Northwest Tarrant County — parents working hard and still coming up short after paying for housing, utilities, childcare and other necessities. They are seniors stretching fixed incomes. 

We’re incredibly thankful that when our neighbors need help putting food on the table, people like you make sure Community Link can be here for them.

Because of your support, families can take home nutritious groceries, including fresh fruits and vegetables, meat, eggs, bread and other staples that help stretch a family’s budget when there simply isn’t enough to cover everything.

But we also know there are more neighbors who need help. While we currently have the capacity to serve approximately 160 families each day, demand can exceed 300 families a day.

For 20 years, our community has stepped forward to care for one another. From the six families Community Link served when we first opened our doors to the hundreds of families who turn to us each week today, you have been part of making sure our neighbors don’t face hunger alone.

Thank you for being part of a community that cares for its neighbors — and for believing, as we do, that stronger communities start with full plates.