Two Dallas-area nonprofits are recruiting volunteers and seeking donations for November Thanksgiving celebrations serving people experiencing homelessness and young people connected to foster care.
Dallas LIFE will hold its annual Turkey Fry on November 23, while Change 1 will host a Dallas-Fort Worth Thanksgiving celebration on November 14.
Readers can help by preparing meals, donating gifts, volunteering at events or organizing group contributions.
Dallas LIFE asks companies seeking event-material recognition to commit to sponsorships by October 31, and Change 1 closes registration for its DFW celebration the same day. Neither organization identifies October 31 as a blanket volunteer-signup deadline.
Dallas LIFE expects more than 200 volunteers at its November 23 Turkey Fry at 1100 Cadiz St. in Dallas. Participants will fry turkeys, serve meals and assist men, women and children in the organization’s recovery program, according to its October 4 event announcement.
The nonprofit invites additional volunteers to help in the kitchen, play games and visit with senior residents. Dallas LIFE says adults must pass a background check and limits each company to four volunteers at the turkey fryer.
The organization says $50 supports 20 holiday meals, $100 supports 40 and $250 supports 100. Corporate sponsorships range from $2,500 to $25,000. Companies seeking recognition in event materials must commit by October 31.
The event also supports Dallas LIFE’s 10-month Homeless No More residential recovery program, as The Dallas Express previously covered. Dallas LIFE says nearly nine in 10 program graduates do not return to the shelter system, an outcome figure the organization reports.
Residents can register for the November 23 event or donate through the nonprofit’s website. Questions may go to info@dallaslife.org or 214-421-1380.
Dallas continues to confront homelessness and public safety concerns, particularly downtown, where city officials have prioritized reducing encampments, addressing crime, and restoring public spaces. In December 2025, the Dallas City Council approved up to $10 million in taxpayer funding for the second phase of its Street to Home initiative, which coordinates housing assistance, mental health services, and law enforcement efforts. The city and Housing Forward reaffirmed their commitment to the initiative in January 2026, while Housing Forward announced its expansion into additional areas in May. The Dallas City Council also approved its fiscal year 2026-27 budget in September, maintaining homelessness response as a city priority through housing assistance and public-private partnerships.
Organizations such as Dallas LIFE complement these efforts through residential recovery programs designed to help individuals achieve long-term stability and self-sufficiency.
Change 1 will host its DFW Thanksgiving Celebration on Saturday, November 14, from noon to 3 p.m. at the Thurgood Marshall Recreation Center. The organization welcomes youth currently in foster care ages 14 and older and former foster youth ages 18 to 26.
Volunteers can help sort donations, prepare gifts, welcome guests and support the event. Change 1 also plans a DFW gift-preparation day on Friday, November 13. The nonprofit says registered volunteers will receive shift details.
Change 1 is requesting donations and gifts for its Holiday Boxes, including blankets, games, journals and personal-care items. It welcomes individuals, churches, businesses and other groups to organize collections or contribute financially.
The October 31 cutoff applies to registration for the November 14 celebration. Readers interested in helping can volunteer, shop the Dallas gift wish list or donate through Change 1’s Thanksgiving page, which provides separate participation links.
Both organizations offer North Texans a way to contribute directly to Thanksgiving activities while supporting programs that serve vulnerable residents beyond the holiday season.
Provided by Dallas Express
