Single Parent Advocate is a Farmers Branch, Texas, 501(c)(3) nonprofit that serves single moms, single dads, and the grandparents and caregivers raising children on their own across North Texas. This month we’re saying thank you for our first Strong Parent. Bright Future. retreat, sharing what’s next for the holidays, and passing along fall ideas for single parents that are safe, fun, and easy on the budget.
Thank You for a Beautiful Retreat
On Saturday, October 17, single parents and their kids filled The Meeting Place in Farmers Branch for our first Strong Parent. Bright Future. retreat. Parents spent the day on money, mindset, and building a support circle, while kids had their own stories, games, and activities down the hall. And because of our sponsors, every family came free.
We know what it takes to get yourself and your kids out the door on a Saturday morning. To every family who came: thank you for trusting us with your day. We hope you left feeling stronger and a lot less alone. You’re part of the SPA family now.
To our speakers. Thank you to Marla Diann, Alpa Arora, Chef Raymond Lee, Simone Cockrell, Richard L. Rea Jr., Scott Murray, Julie Koranteng, and Isha Lo. You gave our parents practical tools, honest stories, and real encouragement.
To our sponsors and partners. Thank you to iDrive1 Motorcars, Bingo Bingo, Gateway Dallas Church, and The Meeting Place for making the day free for every family. Your generosity is the reason a parent could say yes without worrying about the cost.
To our volunteers. You set up chairs, welcomed families at the door, served lunch, and loved on our kids all day. None of it happens without you.
Attended the retreat? Open your workbook to My Next Steps, pick one thing, and try it this week. Small steps add up.
What’s Next from Single Parent Advocate?
Single Parent Advocate has two holiday events coming up: a Thanksgiving celebration on Saturday, November 21, and our 15th annual Christmas Outreach on December 18–19. Sign-ups aren’t open yet. When they open, you’ll find them first on the SPA Events page and in your email.
Thanksgiving Celebration, Saturday, November 21. We’ll sit down to dinner together, take family photos, and share a word of hope and encouragement.
15th Annual Christmas Outreach, December 18–19. The plan includes bicycles, new winter coats, toys, gift cards for teens (they get forgotten too often at the holidays), a family meal, crafts, and family photos. We’ll share the venue as soon as it’s confirmed.
What should you do now? Keep an eye on the Events page and your inbox. If you’re not on our email list yet, contact our team and ask to be added so you don’t miss the announcement.
What Are Some Free or Low-Cost Fall Activities for Single Parents?
Some of the best free fall ideas for single parents in North Texas are a leaf “color walk” at a nearby park, painting pumpkins, a movie night at home, a costume swap, and cooking soup or chili together. Kids remember the time you spent together much longer than they remember what it cost.
- Take a color walk. Pick a park or trail and see who can find the most red, orange, and yellow leaves. Bring them home and glue them onto an old cereal box for a collage.
- Paint pumpkins instead of carving them. It’s cheaper, less messy, and safer for little hands. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that adults handle any carving.
- See the pumpkins at the Dallas Arboretum for $3. Autumn at the Arboretum runs through November 1, 2026, and families who use the Museums for All program pay $3 admission and park free, according to Visit Dallas. Bring your Lone Star Card and a photo ID. The Arboretum is also hosting a sensory-friendly evening in Pumpkin Village on Tuesday, October 20, from 5:30 to 8 p.m.
- Visit a church or community pumpkin patch. Many are free to walk through, and they make a great spot for fall photos.
- Host a living room movie night. Hang a sheet, pop popcorn on the stove, and let the kids make the tickets. Invite another single-parent family and take turns hosting.
- Swap costumes. Trade last year’s costumes with friends, then fill in the gaps at a thrift store or a local buy-nothing group.
- Cook a fall meal together. Let the kids measure and stir a pot of soup or chili. It’s dinner, a life skill, and a fractions lesson all at once.
- Start a gratitude jar. Each night until Thanksgiving, everyone adds one thing they’re thankful for. Read them together at Thanksgiving dinner.
How Can I Keep My Kids Safe on Halloween?
Make your kids easy to see, swap masks for face paint, stay with children 12 and under, and check all candy at home before anyone eats it. Halloween falls on a Saturday this year, so expect more people and more cars out after dark.
- Make them easy to see. Put reflective tape on costumes and treat bags, and give every child a flashlight or glow stick. Children’s Mercy notes that the AAP recommends an adult go along with kids 12 and under.
- Skip the mask. Non-toxic face paint is safer than a mask that blocks their view, and costumes should be short enough that kids won’t trip (org).
- Make a plan with older kids. Agree on the route, a time to be home, and who’s carrying a phone.
- Stick to well-lit homes. Never go inside a house or a car for a treat, and cross the street together at the corner.
- Check the candy. Throw out anything unwrapped or torn. Hard candy, gum, and popcorn are choking hazards for kids 4 and under.
- Try an earlier option. Trunk-or-treats and daytime events at churches and community centers keep the fun going without the late night.
What Should Single Parents Know About SNAP This Fall?
SNAP benefits in Texas went up slightly on October 1, 2026, but the work rules also changed. Parents whose children are all 14 or older are no longer automatically exempt from SNAP work requirements, according to ABC13. If that’s your family, check your status before your next renewal.
- Benefits went up a little. The maximum monthly benefit for a family of four rose from $994 to $1,023, and a one-person household went from $298 to $306 (KTXS).
- Work rules are wider now. The requirements now cover adults without dependents through age 64, and families with children 14 and older lost their automatic exemption (KTXS).
- Candy and sweet drinks are out. Since April 1, 2026, Texans can’t use SNAP to buy candy or sweetened drinks (The Texas Tribune). Plan Halloween treats and party drinks with that in mind.
- Get free help. The North Texas Food Bank offers free SNAP application help at 214-269-0906, Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., or by email at snap@ntfb.org.
Where Can I Find Help with Food and Utility Bills in North Texas?
For food, use the North Texas Food Bank pantry finder or dial 2-1-1. If you live in Dallas County and need help with an electric or gas bill, call the Comprehensive Energy Assistance Program at 214-819-1848 to make an appointment.
- Food pantries. The NTFB pantry finder lists partner pantries near you. Call ahead to confirm hours. According to NTFB, you can also dial 2-1-1 or the National Hunger Hotline at 1-866-348-6479.
- Electric and gas bills. Dallas County’s Comprehensive Energy Assistance Program helps income-eligible households pay electric and gas bills. It’s by appointment only, so call 214-819-1848, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Households at or below 150% of the federal poverty guideline may qualify, and the program gives priority to households with children age 5 and younger.
- What to bring. The CEAP requirements checklist asks for ID, proof of income for the past 30 days, and the front and back of your utility bills. Processing takes four to six weeks, so apply before the first cold snap.
- Outside Dallas County? Dial 2-1-1 to reach the energy assistance agency for your county.
Two More Fall Reminders for Busy Parents
Free flu shots for kids. The flu vaccine is recommended for children 6 months and older (Texas DSHS). Through the Texas Vaccines for Children program, children through age 18 who are uninsured, underinsured, or covered by Medicaid or CHIP can get low-cost vaccines. For free or low-cost options near you, dial 2-1-1 or visit 211Texas.org.
The 2027–28 FAFSA is open now. If you or your teen is heading to college or a trade school next fall, the 2027–28 FAFSA is open. Many schools hand out aid first-come, first-served, so filing early helps. Our Resources page has SPA’s college financial aid guide for single parents.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I sign up for Single Parent Advocate’s Thanksgiving or Christmas events? Sign-ups aren’t open yet. When registration opens, it will be posted on the SPA Events page and sent by email. Check the Events page often and watch your inbox.
When is the Single Parent Advocate Christmas Outreach in 2026? The 15th annual Christmas Outreach is planned for December 18–19, 2026. Venue details and sign-up information will be posted on the Events page once they’re confirmed.
When is the SPA Thanksgiving celebration? The Thanksgiving celebration is on Saturday, November 21, 2026. Details will be posted on the Events page.
Who can get help from Single Parent Advocate? Single Parent Advocate serves single-parent families across North Texas, including single moms, single dads, and grandparents or other caregivers raising children on their own. Some resources are also available online.
Are Single Parent Advocate events free for families? Yes. The Strong Parent. Bright Future. retreat was free for every family because of its sponsors. Details for future events will be shared on the Events page.
What are cheap fall activities for single parents in Dallas? Low-cost options include park color walks, painting pumpkins, movie nights at home, costume swaps, and the Dallas Arboretum’s $3 Museums for All admission through November 1, 2026.
Where can a single parent get food help in Dallas? Use the North Texas Food Bank pantry finder at ntfb.org, dial 2-1-1, or call NTFB’s free SNAP help line at 214-269-0906.
How can I volunteer with Single Parent Advocate this holiday season? Visit the SPA Volunteer page and keep an eye on the Events page. Volunteers will be needed for Thanksgiving and the Christmas Outreach, including help moving bikes and toys.
How Can You Help Single-Parent Families This Season?
If you’re not a single parent but want to stand beside one, the holidays are a great time to start. You can volunteer, give, or share this post with a single parent who could use some encouragement.
- Thanksgiving and Christmas Outreach both need extra hands, from serving dinner to picking up and moving bikes. Visit our Volunteer page and watch the Events tab for dates.
- A gift through our Donate page helps put bikes, coats, and a warm meal in front of families who need them.
- Businesses and churches that want to underwrite a holiday event can contact our team.
- Send this post to a single parent you know.
True Hope, Real Help
This fall, we hope you find time for a cool evening walk, a silly costume, or a pot of soup with your kids. Years from now, those are the nights your kids will bring up. And when the season feels heavy, remember you don’t have to carry it alone. Reach us anytime at 214-495-1521.
With love, Stacie Martin and the Single Parent Advocate Team
Single Parent Advocate | 13612 Midway Road, Suite 608, Farmers Branch, TX 75244 | 214-495-1521 | SingleParentAdvocate.org
