DESOTO – Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, school campus closures, and the stoppage of high school sports, twelve DeSoto High School student athletic trainers jump-started the idea of the North Texas Food Bank (NTFB) DeSoto Distribution Day to help their community.

On June 2, with the help of DeSoto Athletic Trainer David J. Young, the students were able to see their idea in action as the NTFB staff and National Guard distributed pounds of food to over 500 DeSoto-area families.

After trying a few local ideas, Young contacted the North Texas Food Bank on behalf of the students which began the plan to bring the NTFB Mobile Pantry to the city.

During the event, the NTFB staff, the National Guard and the DeSoto High School students distributed 19,200 pounds of dry good family relief packs, 11,250 pounds of fresh produce, 150 pounds of kids snack bags, 1,600 gallons of milk and 8 pallets (384 boxes) of frozen entrée meal items to area families.

The North Texas Food Bank (NTFB) is a top-ranked nonprofit hunger-relief organization operating a state-of-the-art volunteer and distribution center in Plano — the Perot Family Campus.