CITY OF ARLINGTON NEWS
TARRANT AREA FOOD BANK ’ S NEW RESOURCES AND EDUCATION DELIVERED BUS WILL SERVE ARLINGTON COMMUNITY
The Tarrant Area Food Bank , in partnership with the City of Arlington and Tom Thumb / Albertsons , unveiled its new Resources and Education Delivered ( R . E . D .) Bus on Saturday , March 26 , 2022 . The R . E . D . Bus will provide community resource assistance , nutrition education , and healthy food options to Arlington communities with high levels of food insecurity .
Tarrant Area Food Bank is launching this initiative to bring their services directly to those most in need in the city of Arlington . At the heart of this program is an ADA-compliant mobile service delivery unit , the R . E . D . Bus , a specially-built vehicle , which provides space for the display and distribution of grocery items and office space for TAFB staff to conduct SNAP enrollment and other community service referrals .
“ As we continue to provide community support to relieve the effects of the pandemic , we are deepening our roots in Arlington by launching solutions that bring our services to the people in underserved communities where transportation may be lacking ,” said Julie Butner , President and CEO of Tarrant Area Food Bank , “ TAFB will provide emergency food boxes , nutrition education , as well as facilitate enrollment of eligible families into federal benefits programs such as SNAP and Medicaid with our R . E . D . Bus ”.
The R . E . D . Bus made its first official stop on March 26 , for a ribbon-cutting ceremony and grand opening of a new school pantry , The Mustang Market , at Nichols Junior High in Arlington .
The R . E . D . Bus will serve approximately 5,000 low-income residents and family members per month . TAFB will serve
individuals of all ages and is working directly with the City of Arlington to identify specific community neighborhoods based on income and food insecurity data . The R . E . D . Bus will make multiple stops in a single day , connecting families to food , SNAP benefits and additional community resources to address housing , education , and employment .
“ The City of Arlington is proud to partner with the Tarrant Area Food Bank and support the development of The R . E . D . Bus , which will help continue the nonprofit ’ s work of providing nutritional meals and critical resources where they are needed most in our community .”
— CITY OF ARLINGTON MAYOR JIM ROSS
This concept caught the eye of Tom Thumb / Albertsons , who has generously provided funding for the bus and staffing over the next two years . The R . E . D . Bus reinforced their commitment to “ Nourishing Neighbors ” hunger-relief resources during the current pandemic health crisis .
“ Albertsons Companies Southern Division has an ongoing mission to help fight hunger in the communities we serve , and our most urgent mission is to be here for our shared communities and schools when they need us most ,” said Wes Jackson , Division President , Albertsons Companies Southern Division .