Purchasing food for Christmas brunch or dinner and putting presents under the tree might hit people’s pockets harder this year because of rising costs.
Tarrant County residents trying to access free food this holiday season have a variety of options. Several nonprofits also are offering help for parents struggling to buy gifts this year. If you need some last-minute help, here is a roundup of places that will be providing free food and gifts leading up to the holidays.
Tarrant Area Food Bank
The food bank is hosting its final holiday mobile food event from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Dec. 22 at Weatherford High School, 2121 Bethel Road, Weatherford.
Christian Center of Fort Worth
The church will provide a free lunch on Christmas day from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Mr. and Mrs. Claus will attend, handing out a free present to every child. There will also be free groceries, winter coats and clothing available at 4301 NE 28th St., Haltom City.
Community Food Bank
Holiday food boxes will be available from 9 a.m.-1 p.m., Dec 21-22 at 3000 Galvez Ave. Fort Worth. You may find more details here.
GRACE Grapevine
GRACE Grapevine provides a Christmas Cottage where guests can pick up free toys, and a food bank where the organization is distributing holiday food boxes. Everyone who would like to participate in the cottage or food bank has to register at the organization’s main office. Its hours are 10 a.m.-4 p.m. at 873 E. Walnut St., Grapevine.
The Christmas Cottage is open through Dec. 22, while the food bank will be distributing holiday boxes through Dec. 23.
Union Gospel Mission Tarrant County
Union Gospel Mission will hold a special holiday meal at 11:40 a.m, Dec. 23 at 1321 E. Lancaster Ave., Fort Worth. After lunch is served, participants will be able to pick out a gift from the mission’s warehouse. The organization will also serve three meals on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Meals will be served at 7 a.m., 12:30 p.m. and 6 p.m. Guests are required to have a Tarrant County Homeless coalition scan card to participate.
Mission Arlington
Mission Arlington will have a Christmas Store open for parents to pick out free gifts for their children. The store is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. through Dec. 22 and will be open 10 a.m.-12 p.m., Dec. 23. The store is located at 400 W. South St., Arlington.
Rachel Behrndt is a government accountability reporter for the Fort Worth Report. Contact her at rachel.behrndt@fortworthreport.org or via Twitter. At the Fort Worth Report, news decisions are made independently of our board members and financial supporters. Read more about our editorial independence policy here.