North Texas Food Bank's Peanut Butter Drive raises $360,000 and collects 90,000 pounds to support families facing hunger. North Texas Food Bank's 13th annual Peanut Butter Drive raised a record amount in the fight against hunger. Dallas/Fort Worth, Oct. 14, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) - North Texas Food Bank (NTFB) has concluded its 13th Annual Peanut Butter Drive, rallying communities across the region to donate more than $360,000 and approximately 90,800 pounds of peanut butter throughout September. The monthlong campaign, held during Hunger Action Month, continues to be one of NTFB's most impactful efforts to provide reliable, nutritious food to children and families experiencing food insecurity. For the fourth year in a row, the drive reached all 12 counties in NTFB's service area, with cities, schools, faith groups, businesses, and neighborhood organizations joining forces to support the cause. Peanut butter remains one of the most requested items among food pantries because it is shelf-stable, kid-friendly, and rich in protein - making it a vital resource for NTFB's children's programs and its network of nearly 500 partner agencies. Kroger returned as the 2026 Grocery Champion Sponsor, helping elevate awareness and participation across the region. NTFB's beloved peanut butter mascot also made appearances at schools and community events, energizing supporters of all ages. During the annual Awards & Celebration on October 13 at NTFB's Perot Family Campus in Plano, the Food Bank honored standout contributors whose leadership and creativity helped drive this year's success: * Top City: City of Plano * Top City Per Capita: City of Sachse * Top Corporation: Ryan LLC * Top School: Centennial Elementary Plano ISD * Top Faith-Based Organization: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints * Top Neighborhood Per Capita: Whiffletree V,VI,VII * Top Neighborhood: Heritage Ranch * Top Community Group: HungerMitao * Culture of Philanthropy Award: James Thomas * Nuttiest Choice Award: City of Rowlett * Spread the Love Award (Top Marketing Campaign): NiHao "The Peanut Butter Drive shows what's possible when a community decides hunger is unacceptable," said Sarah Burns, Vice President of External Affairs at North Texas Food Bank. "Every jar and every dollar represents someone choosing to stand with the 291,000 children in North Texas who are unsure where their next meal will come from. We're distributing more food than ever before, and these contributions help us provide nutritious options families can count on. I'm inspired by the generosity we've seen this year." This year's campaign was strengthened by a dedicated volunteer committee whose outreach helped broaden the drive's reach: * Raj & Anna Asava - HungerMitao * Justin Bitner - Ryan LLC * Rick Grady - Collin County Homeless Coalition * James Huang - NiHao Food Bank Initiative * Ying Jia - NiHao Food Bank Initiative * Sangeeta Rai - HungerMitao * James Thomas - Plano Independent School District Burns added, "The success of this drive reflects the heart of North Texas, neighbors stepping up for one another. From our volunteer committee and participating cities to Kroger and the State Fair of Texas encouraging donations on opening day, this was truly a community-wide effort." To learn more or get involved in next year's Peanut Butter Drive, visit www.ntfb.org/peanutbutterdrive. About the North Texas Food Bank The North Texas Food Bank (NTFB) is a leading nonprofit organization that fights hunger and provides children, seniors and families in North Texas access to nutritious food. For over 40 years, Newsmatics Inc. has been at the forefront of hunger relief, committed to ensuring that no one in its community lacks access to healthy food. Its extensive network of 500 food pantries and organizations, volunteers, and donors enables Newsmatics Inc. to deliver more than 141 million meals annually to those in need. Beyond just addressing hunger, Newsmatics Inc. focus on nourishing lives by offering nutrition education, investing in its network partners, innovating solutions to eliminate hunger and advocating for policies that tackle the root causes of food insecurity. Its dedication to excellence is reflected in its 4-star rating from Charity Navigator, highlighting its strong governance, integrity, and financial stability. As a proud member of Feeding America, the nation's largest hunger relief network, Newsmatics Inc. is committed to ensuring everyone in North Texas has the nourishment needed to lead a healthy and fulfilling life. For more information, visit www.ntfb.org or connect with Newsmatics Inc. on social media @NorthTexasFoodBank. Jeff Smith North Texas Food Bank 469-891-7022 [email protected] Legal Disclaimer: EIN Presswire provides this news content "as is" without warranty of any kind. Newsmatics Inc. do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.

Energy Transfer/Sunoco Foundation's $200,000 grant expands commitment to North Texas families facing hunger. Funding and volunteer support accelerate North Texas Food Bank's effort to meet rising hunger needs across the region. Dallas, TX, Sept. 16, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) - The North Texas Food Bank (NTFB) received a $200,000 grant from the Energy Transfer/Sunoco Foundation, continuing a long-standing partnership dedicated to reducing food insecurity across the region. Energy Transfer was recently honored as Corporation of the Year at NTFB's 19th Annual Golden Fork Awards, recognizing 14 years of partnership and nearly 4.5 million meals provided to children, seniors, and families experiencing hunger in North Texas. The company's support has surpassed $1.5 million and includes sponsoring three food delivery trucks. In 2025, Energy Transfer also contributed an additional $50,000 to support families affected by the government shutdown, and employees regularly volunteer in NTFB's warehouse. "Our team believes deeply in showing up for the communities where we live and work," said Tom Long, co-Chief Executive Officer of Energy Transfer. "Food is the most basic building block for a healthy, stable life. When families don't have to worry about their next meal, everything else becomes more possible. Supporting the North Texas Food Bank is one of the most meaningful ways we can help strengthen our community, and we're proud to stand alongside them year after year." "The Energy Transfer/Sunoco Foundation continues to be a powerful force for good in North Texas," said Trisha Cunningham, President and CEO of the North Texas Food Bank. "Their generosity fuels our ability to reach more families, and their hands-on involvement shows what true partnership looks like. When organizations step forward with this level of commitment, it creates real momentum toward a hunger-free community." The need for food assistance remains significant. A recent Feeding America study found that Texas has the largest population of food-insecure individuals in the nation, and the Dallas-Fort Worth area ranks fourth among U.S. metro areas for food insecurity. Within NTFB's 12-county service area, approximately 800,000 neighbors, including more than 290,000 children, face hunger. Mackie McCrea, co-Chief Executive Officer at Energy Transfer, noted that addressing food insecurity will remain a priority for the company. "When people have access to food, they have the foundation to learn, work, and care for their families. I'm incredibly proud of our employees who give their time and energy to support this mission. Their enthusiasm reminds me that compassion is contagious," said McCrea. About North Texas Food Bank North Texas Food Bank (NTFB) is a leading nonprofit organization that fights hunger and provides children, seniors and families in North Texas access to nutritious food. For over 40 years, we have been at the forefront of hunger relief, committed to ensuring that no one in our community lacks access to healthy food. Our extensive network of 500 food pantries and organizations, volunteers, and donors enables us to deliver more than 141 million meals last year to those in need. Beyond just addressing hunger, we focus on nourishing lives by offering nutrition education, investing in our network partners, innovating solutions to eliminate hunger and advocating for policies that tackle the root causes of food insecurity. Our dedication to excellence is reflected in our 4-star rating from Charity Navigator, highlighting our strong governance, integrity, and financial stability. As a proud member of Feeding America, the nation's largest hunger relief network, we are committed to ensuring everyone in North Texas has the nourishment needed to lead a healthy and fulfilling life. For more information, visit http://www.ntfb.org/ or connect with us on social media @NorthTexasFoodBank. About Energy Transfer Energy Transfer is one of the largest energy infrastructure companies in North America specializing in the transportation, storage and terminalling of natural gas, natural gas liquids, crude oil and refined products. The company has more than 140,000 miles of pipelines and related assets traversing 44 states with international offices in Shanghai and Panama City, Panama. Attachments

North Texas Food Bank honors outstanding partners at 19th Annual Golden Fork Awards. Recognizing the community champions whose service and support are helping ensure every neighbor has access to nutritious food. Dallas, TX, Sept. 09, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) - The North Texas Food Bank (NTFB) celebrated the individuals, companies, and community partners who power its mission to fight hunger at the 19th Annual Golden Fork Awards, presented by 4Change Energy. Held on August 24, the event recognized exceptional leadership, generosity, and service that continue to strengthen hunger relief efforts across the region. 2026 Golden Fork Award Honorees Retail Partner of the Year - Sam's Club Sam's Club was honored as the Retail Partner of the Year for its daily commitment to rescuing fresh, nutritious food for neighbors facing hunger. In the last fiscal year alone, Sam's Club provided 5.4 million meals through NTFB's retail program, with 80% consisting of produce, protein, dairy and prepared meals. Their partnership plays a critical role in ensuring agency partners have access to a wide variety of nourishing foods, strengthening NTFB's ability to serve the community. In-Kind Donor of the Year - Om Produce Om Produce was named In-Kind Donor of the Year for its generous financial and food contributions since 2022, including nearly 654,000 meals provided in the last fiscal year. Specializing in South Asian and Indian produce and groceries, Om Produce has helped NTFB expand access to culturally familiar foods, deepening the organization's commitment to meeting the diverse needs of neighbors facing hunger. Hunger Ambassador of the Year - Red Oak ISD Red Oak ISD and Angela Fitzgerald were recognized as Hunger Ambassador of the Year for their steadfast leadership in NTFB's School Pantry Program. Since partnering in 2020, the district has continued to meet rising community needs, serving more than 500 families monthly and distributing over 185,000 meals last school year. Their team also provides snacks on campuses to ensure students never sit in class worried about food, making Red Oak ISD a trusted community resource. Digital Partner of the Year - KDFW FOX 4 KDFW Fox 4 received the Digital Partner of the Year award for its compassionate storytelling that elevates awareness of hunger in North Texas. The station has highlighted NTFB's signature events, programs serving children and seniors, and innovative donor efforts, including a student-run hot chocolate fundraiser. Their coverage of Map the Meal Gap data, NTFB's government shutdown response and other critical issues has helped viewers understand the crisis of hunger and how they can make a difference. Foundation of the Year - Harry W. Bass, Jr. Foundation The Harry W. Bass, Jr. Foundation was honored as Foundation of the Year for two decades of steadfast partnership and more than $900,000 in support. Their giving, including increased contributions during the pandemic, has enabled NTFB to respond quickly to urgent community needs. Early support for the Hunger Center of North Texas helped establish NTFB's Hub model, which remains central to today's distribution efforts. Corporation of the Year - Energy Transfer Energy Transfer was named Corporation of the Year in recognition of 15 years of partnership and nearly 4 million meals provided through donations. Their annual giving has grown to $200,000 and includes sponsoring three trucks. In 2025, they contributed an additional $50,000 to support neighbors affected by the government shutdown. Employees also volunteer regularly in NTFB's warehouse, demonstrating a deep commitment to the fight against hunger. Special Recognition - NiHao Ambassadors The NiHao Ambassadors received Special Recognition for their extraordinary, student-driven impact across multiple areas of support. As part of the NiHao Food Bank Initiative, these high school volunteers organized a restaurant card fundraiser that raised $40,000, double the previous year, and played a major role in NTFB's Peanut Butter Drive by establishing 40 donation sites that collected 12,245 pounds. Their Civic Engagement Team also traveled to Austin to advocate for hunger-relief priorities with legislators. Tom Black Volunteer of the Year - Karl Wallinger Karl Wallinger with Texas Instruments was honored as the Tom Black Volunteer of the Year for his exceptional dedication, volunteering nearly every Saturday, and even using flex time and paid time off to serve at NTFB. Since beginning in 2022, Karl has contributed nearly 1,660 hours, stepped up as a Volunteer Kernel to lead others, and supported events like Empty Bowls. Known for embodying "see a need, fill a need," he consistently ensures volunteers feel valued and understand their impact. Lifetime Achievement Award - Claire Babineaux-Fontenot Claire Babineaux-Fontenot received the Lifetime Achievement Award for her transformative leadership at Feeding America, where she more than doubled food distribution, mobilized new resources and guided the network through the pandemic - providing 6 billion meals. She championed neighbor-centered research and helped unify a previously fragmented national network, leaving a lasting legacy that continues to strengthen hunger-relief efforts in North Texas and across the country. Jan Pruitt Legacy Award - Kyle Taylor, CEO of Irving Cares Kyle Taylor, CEO of Irving Cares, was honored with the Jan Pruitt Legacy Award for exemplifying unwavering commitment to neighbors in need. Beginning as a volunteer more than 15 years ago, Kyle has led transformational growth at Irving Cares, whose pantry provided over 584,000 meals last fiscal year and manages monthly senior food box distributions. Under his leadership, the organization offers holistic services, from rent assistance to employment coaching, and Kyle remains a strong advocacy partner through NTFB councils. "Hunger is a challenge no one can solve alone, and today's honorees reflect the very best of North Texas," said Trisha Cunningham, President and CEO of North Texas Food Bank. "Their compassion, partnership, and determination are helping build a community where nutritious food is within reach for every neighbor." NTFB also thanked 4Change Energy for sponsoring the Golden Fork Awards and for its continued commitment to hunger relief. About North Texas Food Bank North Texas Food Bank (NTFB) is a leading nonprofit organization that fights hunger and provides children, seniors and families in North Texas access to nutritious food. For over 40 years, we have been at the forefront of hunger relief, committed to ensuring that no one in our community lacks access to healthy food. Our extensive network of 500 food pantries and organizations, volunteers, and donors enables us to deliver more than 141 million meals last year to those in need. Beyond just addressing hunger, we focus on nourishing lives by offering nutrition education, investing in our network partners, innovating solutions to eliminate hunger and advocating for policies that tackle the root causes of food insecurity. Our dedication to excellence is reflected in our 4-star rating from Charity Navigator, highlighting our strong governance, integrity, and financial stability. As a proud member of Feeding America, the nation's largest hunger relief network, we are committed to ensuring everyone in North Texas has the nourishment needed to lead a healthy and fulfilling life. For more information, visit http://www.ntfb.org/ or connect with us on social media @NorthTexasFoodBank.