MWCares Foundation Teams Up With North Texas Organizations for Second Annual Thanksgiving Food Distribution

The MWCares Foundation, The Big Good, the Baptist Ministers Union, University of North Texas Dallas, and the North Texas Food Bank to provide holiday food for more than 6,000 families.

DALLAS, Following the overwhelming response to the 2020 inaugural Thanksgiving food distribution, The MWCares Foundation, The Big Good, the Baptist Ministers Union and North Texas Food Bank (NTFB), will be joined by UNT to provide nourishing food to community members in need through churches and a public event on November 20, 2021. Named The Big Give, the public holiday food distribution will take place at the UNT Dallas Campus located at 7300 University Hills Blvd. in South Dallas from 9 a.m. to noon.

Last year the Thanksgiving food distribution benefited more than 6,000 families and the goal this year is to provide approximately 7,000 meals through church distributions and 1,500 meals through the public distribution event on November 20th. The food distributions will include a whole chicken, fresh produce and pantry staples.

“It is amazing to see what a community can do when we come together to make a difference,” said Mitchell Ward, CEO of MW Logistics and Founder of The MWCares Foundation, the philanthropic arm of his company. “Last year our team contributed the logistics expertise and relationships with corporations to brighten the holiday for thousands of families across our region. We are excited to bring the tradition back this year. I am grateful to Pastor Dr. Tommy Brown with the Baptist Ministers Union for his leadership in mobilizing the D/FW faith community to help identify families in need, and to all of our partners who are helping bring this enhanced vision to life.”

In 2019, The Big Good, formerly the Gary Patterson Foundation, joined forces with MW Logistics to provide holiday food for North Texas neighbors, giving birth to The Big Give.

“Our team looks forward to the holiday season knowing that we will be making a difference in the community,” said Gary Patterson, Founding Partner of The Big Good, “It has been amazing to see this effort grow and I am thankful to get to work with Mitchell Ward and all of the partners that make this event a success. Seeing the smiles of those who receive this nourishing food is the ultimate blessing. On behalf of The Big Good, I want to thank our caring community for helping us spread joy during the holiday season.” 

Since the onset of the pandemic, UNT Dallas has served as a critical partner hosting numerous mobile pantry distributions on campus alongside NTFB.

“UNT Dallas is proud to join these outstanding partners to provide holiday food on our campus,” said UNT Dallas President Bob Mong.  “All of us are more effective when working together and we are grateful to be part of this team effort.”

The food for the distribution is being provided by the NTFB as well as sourced protein items donated by various partners. The Big Give event on November 20th will be a drive-through mobile pantry food distribution for approxitmatly 1,500 families and is open to the public as long as supplies last. Participants are asked to line up after 7 am. 

“The teams at the MWCares Foundation, The Big Good, the Baptist Ministers Union, and UNT are joining forces with the NTFB to mobilize real change in providing food and hope for our neighbors. Our partners in this initiative operate with the heart of those we serve in mind and I am grateful for their leadership,” said Trisha Cunningham, President and CEO of the North Texas Food Bank. “As we work to address the growing issues of hunger and poverty in our community, we look for partners like these who stand ready to address this complex problem. Their generosity and initiative, help advance our mission of bridging the hunger gap in North Texas during this critical time and beyond.”