Aramark & Buckner Host Free Food & Wellness Expo for South Dallas

On Thursday, Sept. 20, over 150 residents of South Dallas/Oak Cliff attended the annual Aramark Building Community Day, a free food and wellness expo. The event was sponsored by Aramark, the Buckner Family Hope Center at Wynnewood and Dallas Park & Recreation.

Located at the Beckley-Saner Recreation Center, the event included live chefs and dietitians giving demonstrations and teaching about practical ways people can make healthy changes to their diet and lifestyle. There were also multiple exercise stations for children, adults and seniors.

Every attendee left with a free grocery bag of fresh produce from the farmer’s market.

Aramark, an international company specializing in innovative services in food, facilities management and uniforms, hosted 400 similar service projects around the globe as part of its annual day of community service. This year marked the 10th anniversary of Aramark Building Community Day.

Many of those in attendance at the South Dallas event are clients of the Buckner Family Hope Center at Wynnewood, which serves the community by strengthening families, so their children can stay where they belong – in a strong, loving home. The ministry provides programs designed to engage, equip and elevate families. Programs include family coaching, GED, ESL, computer literacy, job training, an after-school program and summer programs for children.

The food and wellness expo coincided with North Texas Giving Day, which encourages the community to donate to their local charity of choice. Buckner Children and Family Services was one of the participating charities with the money raised going to help fund the nonprofit's new Buckner Family Hope Center in Bachman Lake. Donations are accepted through the end of Sept. 20 by clicking here.