A tradition since 2015, following the close of the State Fair of Texas, food and beverage concessionaires donate unused and leftover food items to local Fair Park area food pantries and shelters, as part of the State Fair Cares initiative. The amount of food available for donation directly correlates with how much food the Fair’s concessionaires have leftover following closing of the 2021 State Fair. The Fair Park area food pantries and shelters will pick up donations to help feed local families in need on Monday morning, the day after the annual exposition.
WHAT: The State Fair of Texas invites its food and beverage vendors to donate unused food items for local Fair Park-area food pantries and shelters to pick up at Fair Park the morning after the 2021 State Fair closes.
WHY: To help feed people in need. Each year, the Fair partners with more than 80 of its concessionaires for “State Fair Cares” – an initiative to collect any leftover food from participating vendors after the Fair concludes and donate it to local food pantries and shelters. This is the sixth year for this event.
WHEN: Monday, October 18, 2021
- Concessionaire Food Drop-Off Window – 10:00 a.m.-11:30 a.m.
- Food Pantry and Shelter Pick-Up Window – 11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
WHERE: In front of Big Tex, near the historic Tower Building in Fair Park. Enter through the media gate (gate 3 at Parry & Washington) and contact a State Fair PR representative to guide you in.
WHO: State Fair of Texas administration and concessionaires, as well as representatives from local Fair Park area food pantries and shelters. The organizations participating this year were chosen because of their ability to impact the local community through current feeding and outreach programs. The Fair selected from its current partners that have the capacity to use this food and distribute it quickly to children, adults, and seniors or other organizations in the South Dallas/Fair Park area.
Photo: Kevin Brown/State Fair of Texas
