Residents in the City of Mesquite are stepping up to combat child hunger during the critical summer months through the annual Spread the Love campaign. In partnership with Sharing Life Community Outreach, the initiative has become a beacon of hope as North Texas families face the twin pressures of soaring grocery prices and reduced federal aid for food banks. “Every child who goes to bed hungry, every family struggling to make ends meet – they are our neighbors, and they deserve better, and if we work together, we can help,” said Teresa Jackson, CEO of Sharing Life, calling attention to the glaring issue of food insecurity in the region, as reported by the City of Mesquite’s official website.
According to studies released in 2024 by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Feeding America, Texas is taking the brunt, with one in four kids in the state grappling with inconsistent access to nutritious food. The numbers are particularly stark in North Texas. In response, Spread the Love aims to quite literally spread the love by providing kids the means to prepare their healthy meals while school’s out. The campaign encourages people to donate peanut butter and jelly, as well as alternative butters, to consider carefully children with allergies. Last year’s efforts resulted in over 3,900 pounds of food donations, translating into more than 25,000 sandwiches…