Food Stabilization Program Continues to Grow

2013 kicked off with The Stewpot Children and Youth programs doing our family stabilization program monthly instead of quarterly which is what we did in 2012. The last Saturday of each month 98 families come to The Stewpot to receive a week’s worth of groceries as well as clothing and other services. In January, we had Parkland’s mobile mammogram unit come out and provide mammograms and education to 40 women. Many women had never received a mammogram before. We also have had representatives from the North Texas Food Bank and Consumer Credit Counseling Services of Dallas come out and provide information about programs they offer that could help meet the needs of the members of our Family Stabilization Program.

The families say that receiving the groceries is a budget relief. They are able to use the money they would have spent on groceries for other bills and expenses which is especially important with the tough economy and rising food costs. Ana Lira, a current client states: I have not been able to find work. The program has been so much help in reducing the amount of food that I have needed to buy from the grocery store. I was able to get 2 sweaters for my young daughters during the January food distribution. I chose sweaters that are a little larger than their current sizes so that they will be able to grow into them next year. I am happy that I have been able to save some money thanks to this program.