Wilkinson Center

Our May Nutrition Class at Wilkinson Center was a huge success!

Twenty-three participants joined us for “Rethink Your Drink,” where they learned how to read nutrition labels, identify hidden sugars in beverages, and choose healthier drink options. Many were surprised to learn that a single can of Coke contains 10 teaspoons of sugar!

A special thank you to Quyen Pham from the North Texas Food Bank Nutrition Education Department for leading this engaging and informative class. Participants enjoyed watching her prepare a healthy Green Smoothie and loved tasting the delicious samples.

To top it off, everyone went home with a selection of fresh produce to continue making healthy choices at home.

Our friends from Bank of Texas stopped by this week for a fun-filled day of smiles and volunteering. Providing two groups to take over both our morning and afternoon shifts, these enthusiastic employees were naturals at helping our neighbors in need shop for food and restocking our pantry shelves with fresh supplies. At the end of the day, Bank of Texas graciously presented Wilkinson Center with a check for $5,000 to help with our general operations.

We are so grateful for partners like Bank of Texas who do all they can to show up for their community!

In Dallas, one in four children faces food insecurity, and summer can be especially challenging when school meals are unavailable. Wilkinson Center’s Stock Up for Summer program provides a lifeline for thousands of families, offering two weeks of kid-friendly food with each pantry visit, emergency snack packs, backpacks, and school supplies to ensure their summer is free from hunger and their next school year is free from stress.

For our client, Georgia, Wilkinson Center is a way for her to get healthy foods and recipes that her grandchildren will actually eat.

When you support Stock Up for Summer, you help provide stability, health, and hope for local families! Donate today: http://bit.ly/42fXE5M

Working students of Dallas: this one’s for you!

Join Wilkinson Center and our friends at Total Spark and Empower Work on Tuesday, June 16 at the Total Wireless on Lake June Road for Pathways to Possibility: A Career Community panel! This free community event features real stories, career insight, and practical advice from professionals in Dental Assisting, Medical Assisting, Pharmacy Tech, and Phlebotomy as well as information about Wilkinson Center's GED and ESL adult education programs. Come discover new opportunities, ask questions, and explore the path that fits your future.

Register for your spot here: https://bit.ly/4v90KVs

Powered by Total Wireless x Empower Work

North Texas food banks say they’re already seeing more families needing help after major cuts to SNAP, the program that helps millions of people buy groceries. With summer here, many kids are losing access to the free school meals they depend on during the year and leaving parents struggling to fill the gap. Food banks say they’re doing everything they can, but they can’t replace what SNAP provides for families. More children across Texas could go hungry this summer as benefits are reduced and rules become harder to navigate.

Learn more about recent SNAP cuts in this article from NBCDFW and help Wilkinson Center tackle summer hunger with our Stock Up for Summer program, fueling summer fun one meal at a time.

New SNAP rules may be cutting benefits and some families may not know why Food banks say new SNAP rules are already cutting benefits for some families. Here is what is changing and why summer could be tougher.

Nayivis Tillero began studying with Wilkinson Center in August 2024. In her home country, she has a nursing career, but when she arrived in the United States, she decided to continue improving herself professionally and strengthen her English to open more opportunities. She started in an English class for professionals (ITP) and is currently continuing in the program, demonstrating a strong commitment to her goals.

In addition to her studies, Nayivis has two jobs. One of them is in elderly care, a position she has held since August of 2025. This job allows her to apply her vocation for service while generating stable income. Her second job is in medical insurance and related services working with N&M Life Health as a health, life, and funeral services insurance agent.

Nayivis continues studying, working, and planning for her future. Her consistency and discipline reflect the effort of a professional who, despite the challenges of language and adapting to a new country, keeps moving forward to achieving her goals. Nayivis' story is a clear example of perseverance and growth, and it highlights the positive impact that our English classes for professionals can have on the lives of our students.

Whenever a neighbor in need visits the Wilkinson Center Food Pantry, they can expect a grocery-store-level experience where they can shop for whatever items they want, including canned foods, meats, baked goods, dairy, spices, and more.

However, it is our fresh produce that remain some of our most popular items. Our leafy greens, perfect potatoes, gorgeous grapes, and fresh peppers are enough to make the mouth water with possibilities. Best of all, our inventory is always changing, so you never know what goodies we might have week to week.

Learn more about our client-choice food pantry here: https://www.thewilkinsoncenter.org/food-and-support-services/

In Dallas County, 1 in 4 children faces food insecurity, a reality we see every day at Wilkinson Center. Last summer, our Stock Up for Summer program helped provide over 208,000 meals to 4,960 children.

We’re launching our 2026 campaign with a goal of raising $200,000 to keep kids nourished all summer long. Join us in making a difference. Donate today at: http://bit.ly/42fXE5M

Wilkinson Center's Lunch and Learn Program is an opportunity for seniors to socialize and enjoy a delicious catered lunch while learning a new skill from one of our guests presenters. Recently, we invited fellow nonprofit, The Senior Source, to speak about the many benefits of volunteering for senior citizens.

While learning about helping their community, our seniors enjoyed Walking Tacos, a creative take on tacos where ingredients are added to a bag of chips.

To cap off the lesson, participants practiced their volunteering skills by creating To-Go Bags with snacks and supplies for our unhoused clients.

We appreciate our partners at The Senior Source for creating such a fun and informative lesson!