ARLINGTON, Texas – The Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic and Tarrant Area Food Bank partnered up once again with several community partners to host its fourth Thanksgiving Mega Mobile Market on Friday at AT&T Stadium.
 
An ideal fall morning was the backdrop for an opportunity to distribute Thanksgiving-related meals to 5,000 families. In total, 350,000 pounds of food and 292,000 meals were distributed in Tarrant Area Food Bank's largest mass food distribution event of the year. Each box of nutritious food per family included a turkey or chicken, pantry items such as green beans and stuffing, fresh produce and other non-perishable items needed to complete a holiday meal.
 
"We appreciate the opportunity to give back to the community," said Julie Butner, President & Chief Executive Officer, Tarrant Area Food Bank. "We've all struggled in one way or another. Things happen in life and we can relate to that. We know we are doing something, giving back and giving to someone who is struggling right now. I know this means a lot to everyone who is out here today."
 
This year's event featured a special presentation as the Cotton Bowl Foundation and longtime Classic partner American Airlines each gave $10,000 to Tarrant Area Food Bank. The $20,000 donation is earmarked to support TAFB's mission to alleviate hunger and improve health across its 13-county service area.
  
"The Tarrant Area Food Bank does such a great job today for this Thanksgiving food giveaway, but also with the great work they do all year long," said Rick Baker, President/Chief Executive Officer, Cotton Bowl Athletic Association. "We are very proud to partner with them on their mission and their efforts to help families that are in need."
 
The Cotton Bowl Classic and Tarrant Area Food Bank once again captained a team of community partners that included support from AT&T Stadium and the Dallas Cowboys, American Airlines with 300 staff members working the distribution lines and the Arlington Police and Fire departments managing and aiding with the event logistics for the four-hour event. The protein and portions of the food distributed were secured by the collective efforts of the MW Cares Foundation and MW Logistics, Albertsons/Tom Thumb and The Big Good, the charity organization created by legendary college football coach Gary Patterson and Grammy Award-winning R&B artist and Fort Worth native Leon Bridges.

Whataburger donated burgers and chicken sandwiches and Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic partner TicketEStore provided chips and beverages for the more than 400 volunteers on hand and WLTY Radio filled the air with uplifting music throughout the morning.
 
"You come to an event like this and it really gives you the opportunity to reflect and it gives you perspective on all the things we are thankful for and grateful for," said Griffin Gonzalez, Head of Sponsorships, Activations & Global Charitable Initiatives, American Airlines. "Some people don't have the opportunity to sit down at Thanksgiving and have a meal. So, the fact that American Airlines, the Cotton Bowl Classic and Tarrant Area Food Bank are able to come all together to collaborate and give back, it really is something special."
 
This Mega Mobile Market marked the fourth straight year that Tarrant Area Food Bank and the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic teamed up to host a holiday distribution event and the fifth time the two organizations have collaborated to lead mass distribution events at AT&T Stadium. The five Mega Mobile Markets at AT&T Stadium (November 2020, May 2021, November 2021,  November 2022 and November 2023) have combined to provide food to more than 23,300 families.
 
Tarrant Area Food Bank (TAFB) was founded in 1982 by a group of Fort Worth residents concerned about hunger in their community. Now the primary source of donated food for hunger-relief charities and feeding programs in Tarrant and 12 surrounding counties, TAFB is committed to making sure communities in North Texas have the nutritious food they need.
 
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