On an idyllic autumn day at AT&T Stadium, the Tarrant Area Food Bank and the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic joined forces with community partners for the fifth consecutive year to run the 2024 Thanksgiving Mega Mobile Market. According to a report by the City of Arlington's official website, the food distribution event on Thursday served up Thanksgiving meals to 5,417 families, doling out 380,000 pounds of food, which translates to 316,000 meals.
The annual event, strategically situated before the Thanksgiving holiday, has consistently showcased the region's commitment to battling food insecurity. The initiative this year included a generous provision of poultry and pantry staples to ensure that families had a reason to foster holiday cheer. Tarrant Area Food Bank's President and CEO, Julie Butner, expressed the significance of the event, as per the City of Arlington, "This Thanksgiving Mega Mobile Market is huge for the community we serve. This is a community event. The donors and volunteers look forward to this. My staff looks forward to having this direct contact and support to give back and give thanks to what they have by giving to someone else."
In a gesture underscoring their commitment to this cause, both Cotton Bowl Foundation and American Airlines each made substantial $10,000 donations for the second year in a row. This act of giving, which equates to 100,000 meals, was specifically directed to support Tarrant Area Food Bank's broader mission of tackling hunger and improving health within its 13-county service region. Rick Baker, President and CEO of the Cotton Bowl Athletic Association, told the City of Arlington about the event and its importance, "This event is a labor of love for our staff and all of the community partners we are able to bring together to make a major impact on our community. We have a great team and we're proud to support Tarrant Area Food Bank."
