Gary Patterson, Leon Bridges Visit Tarrant Area Food Bank

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It's been a couple weeks since TCU announced that former head football coach Gary Patterson was leaving the program. And while he's no longer coaching the Horned Frogs, Patterson made it clear Tuesday that he's still very much staying connected with the university — and his charity efforts around Fort Worth. 

Patterson and recording artist Leon Bridges, both founding partners of Fort Worth-based nonprofit The Big Good, visited the Tarrant Area Food Bank on Tuesday to tour the facility and also help load up food that will serve the Fort Worth Baptists Ministers Union. The boxes will go to about 50 local churches, which will then distribute the food to those in need around their respective neighborhoods.

The Big Good has also donated 20,000 chickens to accompany other food products provided by Tarrant Area Food Bank and North Texas Food Bank for the second annual Big Give — North Texas' largest Thanksgiving food giveaway, conducted in partnership with MW Cares Foundation. Distributions will take place at various locations over the course of multiple days. 

And there are more events The Big Good is planning well into next spring — which Patterson, at least as of right now, says he intends to be a part of.

"We're always going to have a house here. We're always going to be part of Fort Worth, always going to be a part of TCU," Patterson says. "That's not going to change."

Bridges, too, says he's happy to be home in Fort Worth. The Grammy Award-winning R&B artist just wrapped up the Gold-Diggers Sound Tour promoting his new album of the same name. As Thanksgiving approaches, Bridges says he wants to "give back to the community that's always giving to me."

And so far, since The Big Good's launch in late 2020, Bridges says he's enjoyed working with the legendary football coach.

"We're legit homies," Bridges says. "This is about continuing to break bread from here and building on our friendship."

Patterson echoed that sentiment.

"[We] have a lot in common, things that you like — No. 1, people, obviously music, just keep going down the list," Patterson says. "You never know when somebody in some different area could someday come back and make a difference in your life."

More information about The Big Good is available at thebiggood.org.

---FOO BAR