Just over 30 percent of Dallas children live in poverty, defined as a family of four making less than $23,550 annually, according to a recent study by Mayor Mike Rawlings' Task Force on Poverty--the third highest rate in the country behind only Philadelphia and Houston. According to a recent study by the Urban Institute it leads the country in income inequality, as well, its well-documented southwestern glamour obscuring deprivation that leaves few of the city's neighborhoods untouched. Sharing Life Community Outreach, a food pantry that also offers free clothing and educational and financial assistance, is one of the handful of nonprofits and charities that have sprung up in an attempt to fix the crisis, and has partnered with Parkland Hospital in its information-sharing program that aims to improve the overall quality of care for Dallas' poor. Founder Theresa Jackson describes Sharing Life's mission as a 360-degree effort to provide all of the "basic necessities" stripped away from those experiencing poverty, from traditional food to clothing to help buying gasoline for struggling Dallasites on the hunt for a job.



Above, Sharing Life's Katina Adler does intake for Melody Rosengarpner, with her 3-year-old son Isaac, at their Mesquite headquarters. The site provides a food pantry, courses in drawing blood and other skills needed for entry-level health care jobs, and a store-like setting where donated clothing is provided.

Mark Peterson/Redux Pictures for POLITICO Magazine