Image courtesy of Texas Health Community Hope
The roots of a transformative idea, nurtured over time, have begun to take hold in North Texas. In 2020, Texas Health Resources sought to support local urban farms with essential infrastructure. That small but significant step has blossomed into something far more impactful — an award program that’s now helping 10 local organizations combat nutrition insecurity and make healthy, locally grown food more accessible.
Announced on December 18, the second annual "Growing Good Food" awards program provides $105,285 in funding to 10 diverse community groups working to improve the region’s food system. With the goal of removing barriers for smaller organizations, these grants help groups who might lack the capacity to navigate larger, more complex funding applications. Since its inception in 2023, this program has awarded a total of $198,285 to 12 organizations, according to a release.
“We understand the hurdles many groups face when applying for funding. We want to help by removing those barriers, ensuring that nonprofits with big ideas and even bigger hearts can get the resources they need,” said Matt Dufrene, vice president of Texas Health Community Hope. “These projects are addressing nutrition security in a holistic way, and each one reflects deep commitment to improving lives and communities.”
The organizations benefiting from this year’s grants represent a tapestry of North Texas neighborhoods, each working on a different piece of the puzzle to make food more accessible, nutritious, and affordable for all. From urban farms to food pantries, the "Growing Good Food" awards are planting the seeds of lasting change.
Image courtesy of Texas Health Community Hope
One of the standout winners is Tabor Farms, based in Fort Worth. With a mission to address food inequities, Tabor Farms will use its funding to repair its vital wellhouse, which pumps water from 650 feet underground, ensuring that the urban farm can continue irrigating its crops.
Further north in Saginaw, Community Link is taking its food security mission to new heights with a freight farm — a unique farm-on-wheels that will provide fresh produce to up to 1,000 families. This mobile farm will support the organization’s food pantry and local farmers markets, helping to provide healthy food options to the greater community.
In the heart of Fort Worth, Southside Community Garden is working to revitalize local gardens in the 76104 ZIP code, an area marked by its low life expectancy. The funding will provide fresh soil, mulch, seedlings, and fertilizer to keep the gardens thriving and to ensure that the community has access to healthy, homegrown produce.
Other grant recipients include Timberview Farmstead, which will deliver monthly produce subscription boxes to its neighbors, and Tarrant County Food Policy Council, which offers educational tours of successful local farms to inspire and educate others on how urban farming can help build stronger communities.
Meanwhile, Urban Roots, NTX DBA FunkyTown Food Project is expanding its outreach with the purchase of a refrigerated van, essential for transporting fresh produce to families in need. CC Food Project, located in Grapevine, is working to rescue fresh food that would otherwise go to waste, demonstrating that food recovery is a key component in solving the issue of food insecurity.
The “Growing Good Food” initiative is just one of the ways that Texas Health Resources is working to improve nutrition security throughout North Texas. Through efforts like the Good For You Healthy Hub and Double Up Food Bucks initiatives, Texas Health is increasing access to fresh produce for families in need. Additionally, the health system’s support of urban farmers and its learning garden program has helped create or restore gardens in 40 area schools, reinforcing the importance of growing food locally and teaching the next generation about sustainable food systems.
“It’s amazing what these groups are doing,” Dufrene added. “They’re not just addressing hunger — they’re building lasting systems of health, education, and sustainability. The pandemic made it clear that nutrition insecurity is a major concern in many communities, and these grants are our way of helping ensure that healthy, affordable food is available where it’s needed most.”
For more information on these initiatives, visit TexasHealthCommunityHope.org.
