Report on a Strategic Grant to Advance Sustainable Development Goals in North Texas

Introduction: A Partnership to Combat Hunger and Poverty

The North Texas Food Bank (NTFB) has received a $3 million multi-year grant from the Albertsons and Tom Thumb Foundation, announced on August 4, 2025. This significant funding represents a strategic partnership aimed at advancing several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), primarily SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). The grant, awarded through the Foundation’s Nourishing Neighbors Innovation Spark Grant program, will support NTFB’s “Fulfilling Futures” initiative, a five-year plan designed to create long-term food security and stability for communities in the region.

A Holistic Strategy Targeting Multiple SDGs

The grant directly funds the “Hope for Tomorrow” program, which employs a comprehensive approach that extends beyond immediate food aid to address the root causes of food insecurity. This model is integral to achieving interconnected development goals.

Beyond Food Provision: Addressing SDG 1, SDG 3, and SDG 8

The “Hope for Tomorrow” program provides services that contribute directly to the following SDGs:

• SDG 1 (No Poverty): By offering financial coaching, the program empowers individuals and families with the tools to achieve economic stability and self-reliance.
• SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being): The initiative facilitates access to healthcare services, recognizing the critical link between nutrition, health, and overall well-being. The program’s use of 29 therapy horses further supports mental health outcomes.
• SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth): Access to job training provides participants with skills to secure sustainable employment, fostering long-term economic security.

As stated by Trisha Cunningham, President and CEO of the North Texas Food Bank, “This grant from Nourishing Neighbors is a major step forward in our work… we can go beyond food and help people build stronger, more secure futures.”

The Central Role of SDG 2: Zero Hunger

The core mission of the partnership is to eradicate hunger in North Texas. The urgency of this goal is underscored by the following statistics:

• Nearly 5.4 million Texans face food insecurity.
• Over 774,000 people in the NTFB service area are food insecure, including one in five children.
• The Dallas-Fort Worth metro area ranks first in hunger among Texas metro areas and third nationally.

Fostering SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

This initiative is a prime example of SDG 17 in action, demonstrating an effective partnership between a non-profit organization and the private sector to achieve sustainable development.

A Long-Term Corporate Commitment

The relationship between Albertsons, Tom Thumb, and the NTFB spans over 40 years. This long-standing collaboration is a testament to the power of sustained, multi-faceted partnerships. Wes Jackson, President of the Southern Division for Albertsons Companies, noted, “This strategic support is designed to foster self-reliance and long-term stability in our communities.”

Impact of the Partnership

The collaboration involves several key components that collectively advance the SDGs:

1. Financial Investment: The $3 million grant provides critical capital for programmatic expansion.
2. In-Kind Donations: In the previous year, the grocery chain donated nearly 2.5 million pounds of nutritious food, directly supporting SDG 2.
3. Community Engagement: The partnership includes holiday support, food drives, and employee volunteer programs, mobilizing community resources.

For more information on how to support these initiatives through donations or volunteering, visit ntfb.org.

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 2: Zero Hunger

  The article’s primary focus is on combating food insecurity and hunger in North Texas through the efforts of the North Texas Food Bank (NTFB). It explicitly mentions that “more than 774,000 people in the region are food insecure” and details initiatives aimed at providing meals.

• SDG 1: No Poverty

  The article discusses a “holistic approach” that goes beyond food provision to address the root causes of need. The “Hope for Tomorrow” program offers “financial coaching” and support to help individuals and families “build stronger, more secure futures” and “foster self-reliance and long-term stability,” which are central to poverty reduction.

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

  The initiative supported by the grant includes providing access to “health care through the food bank’s network of partner agencies.” Furthermore, the donation of “nearly 2.5 million pounds of nutritious food” directly contributes to the health and well-being of the recipients.

• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

  The program aims to enhance economic self-reliance by offering “access to job training.” This component directly supports the goal of promoting productive employment and decent work for all.

• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

  The article is a clear example of a partnership between a non-profit organization (North Texas Food Bank) and the private sector (Albertsons and Tom Thumb Foundation). It highlights a “longstanding partnership” involving financial grants, food donations, and volunteer programs to achieve common goals.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. SDG 2: Zero Hunger

   • Target 2.1: By 2030, end hunger and ensure access by all people, in particular the poor and people in vulnerable situations, including infants, to safe, nutritious and sufficient food all year round.
     
     The article supports this by describing the NTFB’s mission to provide “meals” and “nutritious food” to “774,000 people in the region [who] are food insecure, including one in five children.”

2. SDG 1: No Poverty

   • Target 1.2: By 2030, reduce at least by half the proportion of men, women and children of all ages living in poverty in all its dimensions according to national definitions.
     
     The “Hope for Tomorrow” program’s focus on “financial coaching” and building “long-term stability” directly addresses the goal of reducing poverty and fostering self-reliance.

3. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

   • Target 3.8: Achieve universal health coverage, including financial risk protection, access to quality essential health-care services and access to safe, effective, quality and affordable essential medicines and vaccines for all.
     
     The article states that the program offers “access to… health care through the food bank’s network of partner agencies,” aligning with this target.

4. SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

   • Target 8.6: By 2020, substantially reduce the proportion of youth not in employment, education or training.
     
     Although the target date has passed, the spirit of the target is addressed. The program’s provision of “job training” is a direct effort to reduce the number of people without employment by equipping them with necessary skills.

5. SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

   • Target 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships, building on the experience and resourcing strategies of partnerships.
     
     The article details a multi-year partnership between the NTFB (civil society) and the Albertsons and Tom Thumb Foundation (private sector), funded by a “$3 million… grant” and supported by food donations and “employee volunteer programs.”

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

1. For Target 2.1 (End Hunger):

   • Indicator (Implied): Prevalence of food insecurity. The article provides baseline data: “More than 774,000 people in the region are food insecure, including one in five children,” and “nearly 5.4 million Texans face food insecurity.” Progress can be measured by tracking the reduction in these numbers.
   • Indicator (Mentioned): Volume of food distributed. The article mentions a donation of “nearly 2.5 million pounds of nutritious food,” which serves as a direct output indicator.

2. For Target 1.2 (Reduce Poverty):

   • Indicator (Implied): Number of beneficiaries of support services. The article states the program “currently serves 150 children, adults and veterans each week.” This number can be tracked to measure the reach of the financial coaching and other support services aimed at building self-reliance.

3. For Target 8.6 (Reduce Youth Unemployment):

   • Indicator (Implied): Number of people receiving vocational training. The number of individuals who access the “job training” offered by the program is a direct indicator of efforts to improve employment prospects.

4. For Target 17.17 (Promote Partnerships):

   • Indicator (Mentioned): Value of financial and in-kind contributions from the private sector. The article explicitly states a “$3 million multi-year grant” and a donation of “nearly 2.5 million pounds of nutritious food.”
   • Indicator (Mentioned): Level of volunteer engagement. The article quantifies this with “over 1,200 volunteers annually.”

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: localprofile.com