Community Help Resources

Disaster Preparedness – Community Help Resources

Various public and private organizations are offering the following  resources for our community during this time of need. If you have any suggestions that would be beneficial for our community, please email them to us.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). How to protect yourself and what to do if you think you’re sick.

The health, safety and well-being of our City of Duncanville community and employees is of paramount concern, and the city continues to monitor the 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19) activity.

There are a number of meal services and food pantries that can help anyone who is or becomes food insecure during the pandemic.

  • Brother Bill’s Helping Hand offers a drive-thru food pantry that’s open on Wednesdays and Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Unless it’s an emergency, clients must call 214-638-2196 first. The pantry is located at 3906 North Westmoreland Road in Dallas.
  • Catholic Charities Dallas Marillac at 2843 Lapsley St. in Dallas serves seniors and offers breakfast and lunch Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Food is first come, first serve. Call 214-826-8330 for more information.
  • CitySquare Food Pantry is open from Tuesday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The pantry offers drive-thru and walk-in services, which are first come, first serve. For more information, call 214-823-8710. The pantry’s address is 1610 S. Malcom X Blvd in Dallas.
  • Cristo Rey Dallas College Prep has a food and diaper pantry through the Catholic Charities of Dallas that is open on Tuesdays from 9:30 a.m. until 11:30 a.m. Call 469-844-7956 for more information on the pantry’s services. It’s located at 1064 N. St. Augustine in Dallas.
  • The Crossroads Community Services Pantry at 4500 S. Cockrell Hill Road in Dallas asks clients to bring their own grocery bags, along with a picture ID and proof of their address. Call 214-560-2511 for more information.
  • Duncanville Outreach Ministry (DOM) is a non-profit organization working to alleviate hunger and support those in need in the City of Duncanville community for residents in Zip Codes 75116 & 75137 only. Located at 202 E. Cherry St. in Duncanville.
  • Interfaith Family Services offers a drive-thru food pantry. Clients must call first to pre-register. The number is 214-827-7220 and the pantry is located at 1651 Matilda Street in Dallas.
  • Jan Pruitt Community Pantry services residents of zip codes 75134, 75146, 75172, 75141, 75241, 75154. Potential clients must call first at 972-591-7849. The pantry is located at 123 Alexander St. in Lancaster.
  • Meals on Wheels in Dallas County is still open and delivering food. Those interested can call 214-689-2639 for more information.
  • Minnie’s Food Pantry in Plano is open Wednesday through Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Call 972-596-0253 for more information.
  • North Texas Food Bank in Plano can help those who are food insecure. Call 214-330-1396 for assistance.
  • Pleasant Grove Food Pantry is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and is first come, first serve. The pantry is located at 1324 Pleasant Drive in Dallas and can be reached at 214-505-1928.
  • Vickery Meadow Food Pantry and Clothes Closet can help its clients with food once a month and with clothing every three months. Clients must live in the Vickery Meadow neighborhood, so zip codes 75231 or 75243. The pantry is located at 8448 Walnut Hill Lane in Dallas. Call 214-821-5575 for more information.

Whether you need help securing housing or delaying a payment on your utilities, a number of companies have opened up options to customers, in addition to aid groups.

  • Allstate Insurance customers can now request a special payment plan and are allowed them to skip two premium payments in a row with no penalty. Customers can reach Allstate at 1-877-810-2920.
  • Ambit Energy is waiving late payment fees, extending payment due dates, with no partial payment required and reducing monthly payments by allowing customers to pay their balances over five equal installments. Customers can call support at 877-282-6248 to find out more.
  • AT&T will not terminate services for customers for 60 days, regardless of their ability to pay. The company is also waiving late payments and fees and can help support those who are unable to pay their bill. The company is also offering internet access for “qualifying limited-income households at $10/month through our Access from AT&T program.” Customers must call 800-288-2020 or 611, but expect high call volumes.
  • Charter Spectrum is offering free broadband and WiFi for students in grades kindergarten through 12 for 60 days. The offer is available for those who do not already have internet access at home. The company is also creating free public hot spots for internet access, but customers must call 1-844-488-8395.
  • Comcast is expanding a service they already offer for low-income families called Internet Essentials. The service, which is normally $9.95 a month, will be free for new customers for 60 days and is 25 MBPS. The company also won’t not disconnect a customer’s internet service or assess late fees if they contact Comcast. People hoping to sign up for the services can call 1-855-846-8376 for English and 1-855-765-6995 for Spanish. 
  • Dallas Water Utilities is suspending disconnections for 60 days and offering different kinds of payment arrangements. While they are experiencing high call volumes, customers must call 214-651-1441.
  • The Fort Worth Water Department is temporarily halting disconnections due to non-payment, according to water department spokeswoman Mary Gugliuzza. This applies to residential, commercial and industrial accounts. Call 817-392-4477 for more information.
  • Interfaith Family Services offers utility and rent assistance for clients who need temporary assistance and permanent housing for homeless families. To learn more, click here or call 214-827-7220.
  • Reliant Energy is providing payment extensions and waiving late fees, helping customers with deferred payment plans and offering bill payment assistance through Reliant’s CARE program. The electric company is also “pausing payment-related disconnects for residential and small commercial customers.” Customers can go online, download the app, or call 1-866-RELIANT to receive that help.
  • The St. Jude Center’s Senior Housing for the Homeless offers those who are age 55 and older permanent housing and assistance should they need it. For more information contact Barbara Herron, the program manager, at 469-801-8119 or bherron@ccdallas.org.
  • TXU Energy will waive late fees and extend payment due dates, with no down payment required to help customers. It will also reduce down payments and defer balances over five equal installments. The company also provides additional bill-payment assistance for customers who need help paying a bill through its TXU Energy Aid program. If a customer is unable to pay their bill, they should call TXU Energy at 1-800-242-9113.
  • Verizon is waiving late fees for customers experiencing tough economic conditions because of the outbreak between March 16 and May 13. The company also says it “will not terminate service to a customer who’s been impacted by the events involving the coronavirus.” If customers find themselves needing help due to these circumstances, contact Verizon to discuss available options. Call 1-800-922-0204 for assistance.
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The Knights of Columbus are a fraternal organization of 250 men at Holy Spirit Catholic Church committed to helping our community. Please let us know how we can help you and your family during this difficult time.

    YES, I could use some help.

    Grants from the Fund will be awarded on a first-come first-served basis to those individuals that meet the eligibility criteria, as reviewed and verified by the NRAEF. A one-time grant of $500 will be disbursed directly to each applicant pending our review and verification that the submitted application meets the prescribed guidelines.

    If the COVID-19 outbreak has changed your employment situation, you can file to receive benefits in the meantime.

    The Texas Workforce Commission’s website now has a section on its website dedicated to the COVID-19 response:

    ‘If your employment has been affected by the coronavirus (COVID-19), apply for benefits either online at any time using Unemployment Benefits Services or by calling TWC’s Tele-Center at 800-939-6631 from 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Central Time Mondays through Fridays.”

    Those interested in applying can also use the online claim portal called Unemployment Benefits Services to handle their claim quickly, especially as the line has been experiencing high call volumes.