Friday, Oct 31, 2025 • Drew Davison : Contact

The University of Texas at Arlington School of Social Work, in partnership with the Tarrant Area Food Bank, will host its annual Trunk-or-Treat & Food Giveaway on Saturday, Nov. 1, from 12–3 p.m. on campus at UT Arlington’s Parking Lot 49 (505 Doug Russell Rd., at the corner of South Cooper St. and Doug Russell Rd., Arlington, TX).

This free, family-friendly event is open to the public and offers a fun and safe way for the community to celebrate the season while supporting those in need. Attendees can enjoy:

• Face painting, balloon animals, bounce houses, a corn maze, and a train ride for kids
• A Trunk-or-Treat experience with decorated car trunks and treats
• A drive-thru food giveaway providing pre-packaged boxes of fresh fruit, vegetables, dairy, and meat, donated by the Tarrant Area Food Bank (while supplies last)

The event’s goal is to celebrate the season while also addressing food insecurity in the community and reducing the stigma around accessing food resources. Jobanet Flores, marketing manager for UTA’s School of Social Work, said the annual event added the food giveaway portion when families faced increased food insecurity during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We chose to continue it even after the pandemic because as a community of social workers, we recognized its lasting impact and the ongoing need for support among families in our community,” Flores said.

About 1.3 million people face hunger in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, including one in five children, according to Feeding America’s Map the Meal Gap data. Across the state, nearly 5.4 million Texans are food insecure.

This year’s event takes on added importance as SNAP benefits are expected to halt on Nov. 1 as a result of the federal government shutdown, and tens of thousands of unpaid federal employees in North Texas could face growing food insecurity. An estimated 74,000 federal workers live in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, according to the latest U.S. Census Bureau data.

“Our goal is to create a welcoming and supportive environment where all individuals and families can come together to enjoy a day of fun, obtain essential food resources, and connect with others,” Flores said. “We hope that everyone joining us can find meaning in connecting, giving back and building a stronger community for all.”

About The University of Texas at Arlington (UTA)

Celebrating its 130th anniversary in 2025, The University of Texas at Arlington is a growing public research university in the heart of the thriving Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. With a student body of over 42,700, UTA is the second-largest institution in the University of Texas System, offering more than 180 undergraduate and graduate degree programs. Recognized as a Carnegie R-1 university, UTA stands among the nation’s top 5% of institutions for research activity. UTA and its 280,000 alumni generate an annual economic impact of $28.8 billion for the state. The University has received the Innovation and Economic Prosperity designation from the Association of Public and Land Grant Universities and has earned recognition for its focus on student access and success, considered key drivers to economic growth and social progress for North Texas and beyond.