On July 27, a group of TREC Young Guns visited CitySquare for a tour of the organization’s facilities and an afternoon of service sorting and bagging produce for food pantry clients selecting groceries.
The nearly 30-year-old Dallas nonprofit works to fight poverty and empower the community through various initiatives focused on hunger, health, housing and hope. In addition to the food pantry, CitySquare offers vocational training, housing placement, a crisis center and resources for young adults as well as its own thrift store and AmeriCorps office. Perhaps most importantly, the organization addresses all of its members and guests as “neighbors,” regardless of their social status.
TREC Young Guns got a firsthand look at poverty as they helped CitySquare neighbors “shop” for food, which is often donated from top grocers like Sprouts and Trader Joe’s. It was truly a rewarding experience for all who volunteered.
Dallas Businessman Jim Sowell launched CitySquare in the late 1980s as the Central Dallas Food Pantry. Current President and CEO Larry James joined the organization in 1994 as the food pantry was rolled up under the Central Dallas Ministries. In 2010, the organization changed its name to CitySquare to reflect its “commitment to equality, inclusiveness and recognition that fighting poverty involves bringing the entire community together.”
Following their volunteer activities, the Young Guns toured the nonprofit’s 53,000 square-foot campus located at the corner of Malcolm X Boulevard and I-30 with Matt McBryde, CitySquare’s food operations manager. They visited the Hickory Cottage project, a “tiny home” community that operates in conjunction with the City of Dallas to shelter the 40-50 most costly homeless residents and save taxpayers nearly $30,000 each year in medical and legal costs per participant.
“The Cottage project, which was modeled after a similar undertaking in Atlanta, Georgia, has the potential to really be a catalyst for reducing homelessness in the city,” McBryde said. “Unfortunately, Dallas has one of the highest poverty rates in the country, and programs such as CitySquare are working to face the issue head-on.”
For more information about CitySquare, including volunteer opportunities, visit Citysquare.org or contact McBryde at 817-691-5483.