The North Texas Food Bank was established in 1982 to address the critical issue of hunger in the North Texas area by securing donations of surplus unmarketable, but wholesome, foods and grocery products for distribution through a network of charitable organizations dedicated to feeding the hungry in 13 North Texas Counties, including Dallas, Denton, Collin, Fannin, Rockwall, Hunt, Grayson, Kaufman, Ellis, Navarro, Lamar, Delta and Hopkins. In the first year of operation, the Food Bank distributed 400,000 pounds of food.

Members of the North Texas Food Bank's organizing committee became advocates with members of the Texas Legislature for the passage of the Good Faith Donor Act, which protects donors from liability of donated product. With the passage of this act in 1983, many potential donors began actively donating.

The North Texas Food Bank is a certified member of America's Second Harvest National Food Bank Network. America's Second Harvest, the nation's largest domestic hunger relief organization, solicits food and grocery products from national suppliers for distribution through 200 certified Food Banks nationally. America's Second Harvest also provides Food Banks with operational standards, training, support and inspection, and educates the public and government officials about the nature and solutions to the problem of hunger in the U.S.