Groceries, a carnival and mentorship bring hope to Dallas families

The skies over much of West Wheatland Road were overcast on March 12, but not so over the Youth World Center where a carnival atmosphere filled the air.

Three hours of smiles and laughter brightened the day for the 2016 Youth World Spring Break Cook-Out & Grocery Give-Away. Dallas’ Youth World Center is designed to help at-risk kids and teens find their place in the world. This year the Center partnered with the Dallas Police Department (DPD) and the Dallas Police Athletic League (PAL) to further address the needs of several area communities.

More than 200 families received needed groceries at the event, while youth enjoyed bounce houses, soccer and basketball games and a petting zoo.

The partnership is right in the mentorship wheelhouse of DPD and PAL. Community engagement and recreational youth crime prevention via athletics, arts and academia encourage youth to avoid negative lifestyle choices like gangs and drugs and foster positive, healthy, law enforcement experiences.

For more information on PAL visit: www.dpdpal.com.

For more information on Youth World visit www.youthworld.org.