North Texas legal organizations and law forms joined together with the North Texas Food Bank to combat childhood summer hunger through a competition called Food from the Bar. The campaign raised over $167,000 and provided around 520,000 meals for kids experiencing hunger.
Food from the Bar is a program that started in 2019. It encourages the legal community to raise money, collect food and volunteer for the food bank. Since its creation, the program has raised about $678,000 and has provided access to over 2 million meals.
“We are deeply grateful to the legal organizations that have come together to raise vital funds and food to help feed children during the summer,” president and CEO of the North Texas Food Bank, Trisha Cunningham said. “Their collective generosity and commitment have made a significant impact, ensuring that children in our community do not go hungry when they don’t have access to school meals. This incredible support highlights the power of collaboration and the profound difference we can make when we unite for a common cause. Thank you for being so dedicated to fighting hunger and helping us provide essential nourishment to those who need it most.”
Texas is the leading state in the country for food insecurity. Around 5 million people face hunger, one-third of those individuals being children. The North Texas Food Bank serves 13 counties, an area with the fourth-highest number of people experiencing hunger in the nation. This includes 777,690 people struggling with food insecurity, with 40% being children. Food from the Bar particularly helps these children in the summer when they cannot rely on school-funded lunches, and often do not know when their next meal will be.
The 2024 Food from the Bar committee comprised six representatives dedicated to the cause. This includes Amanda Cottrell with Sheppard Mullin, David Greenstone with Simon Greenstone Panatier, PC, Liz Kiernan with Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, Allison Minter with Waters Kraus & Paul & Siegel, Alissa Puckett with Quilling, Selander, Lownds, Winslett & Moser and Matt Stammel with Vinson & Elkins.
Five law firms were recognized for their efforts in different areas of the campaign. Vinson & Elkins won the Power of Attorneys Award (Top Overall), Simon Greenstone Panatier, PC won the Partner 4 Hope Award (Top Per Capita), Dean Omar Branham Shirley, LLP was awarded the Collective Force Award (Most Volunteers), Thompson Coburn LLP won the #RaiseTheBar Award (Best Social Media Campaign) and Sidley Austin LLP was awarded the Can-Do Award (Most food collected).
A record 17 law firms and legal organizations participated this year. Together they collected more than 1,000 pounds of food and clocked in 227 hours of volunteering.
The North Texas Food Bank is located at 3677 Mapleshade Lane.
