North Texas Food Bank

Who Can Visit?

The North Texas Food Bank (NTFB) is a food distribution center that supplies food to nearly 500 partner agencies across 12 counties in North Texas. This Plano campus does not operate as a walk-in food pantry for individuals. If you need food, you can use the NTFB's Find a Food Pantry tool to locate a partner pantry near you, or call 214-269-0906.

Items Needed for Registration

If you want to sign up for the CSFP senior food box program (called PAN), you'll need to bring identification to a distribution site. Accepted ID types include a birth certificate, baptismal certificate, health card, identification card, driver's license, military ID, veteran ID, passport, or refugee visa. You'll also need to know your gross monthly income (and the combined gross income of all household members, if applicable).

How to Register?

To enroll in the CSFP senior food box program, visit one of the NTFB distribution sites with your ID and income information. You can also have someone else apply on your behalf using the Participant Application and Proxy Form. To check if you're income-eligible, call (214) 367-3123 or email csfpteam@ntfb.org. You can find the CSFP distribution schedule at ntfb.org/csfp-distributions/.

How Often You Can Visit?

For the CSFP (PAN) senior food box program, eligible participants can receive one pre-packaged box of USDA food commodities once a month.

Good to Know

The NTFB Perot Family Campus is a large distribution warehouse, not a storefront food pantry where individuals can walk in and pick up food on demand. Several Google reviewers have noted this and recommend calling ahead or using the online pantry finder instead of coming directly to this location for personal food assistance. That said, if you need help with SNAP benefits, staff are available and have helped many people navigate the application process. One visitor shared, "THE ONLINE PHONE INTERVIEW WAS VERY INFORMATIVE AND THE LADY WHO CALLED ME WAS VERY KIND AND PATIENT. THEY EVEN OFFER TO HELP ASSIST YOU IN FILLING OUT AND TO FILE YOUR S.N.A.P APPLICATION."

Food & Essentials

Through its partner network, NTFB distributes a wide variety of food items. The senior food box program provides an estimated 35 lbs of USDA commodity foods per box each month, including non-perishable shelf-stable items. The food bank's most needed donation items include peanut butter, canned fruit, shelf-stable milk, canned tuna, canned chicken, low-sodium canned vegetables, and trail mix. The food bank also distributes frozen meats, fresh produce, and other perishable items through its partner agencies and mobile distributions.

How to Pick Up

The NTFB Perot Family Campus is not a direct-to-public distribution site for walk-in food pickups. Food is distributed outward to partner food pantries and agencies, which then serve the community. To receive food directly, visit one of NTFB's partner pantries by searching at ntfb.org/food-assistance/find-a-food-pantry/.

Additional Support

NTFB offers SNAP enrollment help at this campus. If you need assistance applying for SNAP food benefits, call 1-214-269-0906.

NTFB also runs mobile food distributions through partnerships with organizations like Catholic Charities Dallas, Dallas College, the University of North Texas at Dallas, Collin College Plano, and Grayson College. These drive-thru events are open to the public and are held on a first-come, first-served basis. Participants are only asked to share their name, family size, and zip code. No proof of need is required. You can view the mobile distribution schedule at ntfb.org/food-assistance/mobile-pantry/.

NTFB also operates special programs for seniors and children. The CSFP (PAN) senior box program provides a monthly box of USDA commodities to income-eligible residents aged 60 and older in the 12-county service area. Child hunger programs include Food 4 Kids, which sends bags of nutritious food home with chronically hungry students each Friday, and school pantry sites that provide non-perishable items plus produce at over 40 school locations. NTFB also provides nutrition education, cooking demonstrations, and connections to resources like the USDA Summer Meals for Kids program.

If you need a social service assistance staff member to help you learn about available benefits, NTFB can connect you to those resources as well.

Ways to Give

NTFB welcomes food and monetary donations at its Perot Family Campus, located at 3677 Mapleshade Ln., Plano, TX 75075. The H-E-B Canned Food Drop-Off is available with no appointment needed during campus hours (Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and Saturday, 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.).

The most needed food donation items include peanut butter (16 oz), canned fruit (14-16 oz), shelf-stable milk (8 oz, not flavored), canned tuna (5 oz), canned chicken (5 oz), low-sodium canned vegetables (15-16 oz), and trail mix (1-2 oz bags). Please do not donate items in glass containers.

You can also donate online at ntfb.org/get-involved/donate/ or by phone at 214-330-1396. Checks can be mailed to: North Texas Food Bank, PO Box 676204, Dallas, Texas 75267-6204. One dollar donated equals three meals for North Texas neighbors. Ninety-five percent of donated resources go directly to food programs. NTFB is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit (EIN: 75-1785357), so all donations are tax-deductible. You can also donate by purchasing items from the NTFB Amazon Wishlist, hosting a virtual or canned food drive, or making a tribute gift in someone's honor or memory.

If your food drive collected at least 2,000 lbs or 2,500 items, NTFB can arrange a pickup from anywhere in its 12-county service area. For pickups or questions, email cfd@ntfb.org or call 214-270-1996.

How to Join the Team?

NTFB welcomes volunteers at the Plano campus. Volunteer shifts are a few hours at a time, making it easy to fit into your schedule. Groups of all sizes are welcome, and the facility is well-organized with a kiosk check-in process. Many reviewers have praised the experience, with one volunteer sharing, "The volunteer shifts are just a few hours at a time, so it is easy to fit into your schedule. Can't wait to go back!" Another described it as "a well organized and fun experience."

To sign up for a volunteer shift, visit ntfb.org/get-involved/volunteer/. Spots are available throughout the day.

NTFB also hires staff. To view and apply for open positions, visit the careers page at ntfb.org/about-us/join-our-team/. For questions, contact Human Resources. Applicants must have authorization to work in the United States. NTFB is an Equal Opportunity Employer.