We exist to alleviate hunger in The Panhandle. We do this in many different ways.
First, we provide food, a basic need. We delivered 6.2 million pounds of food in 2011 to the 29 counties we serve. This is a tangible way you can see what we are doing at the Food Bank. It has been a long-standing tradition since our inception to deliver shelf-stable and fresh foods to the people that need them. We distribute the food through our over 165 agencies that work hand in hand with us to pinpoint need in their communities. We deliver this basic need to people who need help getting back on their feet.
Second, we help people through the sometimes confusing process of applying for food stamps. This is a service we provide in order to keep as many as possible from facing food insecurity. The problem of not knowing what resources are available is not a reason anyone should go hungry. But we don't stop there, we help parents with applications for many programs available for their children including CHiPS. This is a tool that we are proud to offer, because the end benefit is having the resources to ensure your family is taken care of.
Thirdly, we educate the public on making healthy inexpensive food choices for their families. We teach children and adults about nutrition and why it's important to eat wisely. If we just delivered food to families, we would only meet the current need, but because we teach them how to choose healthy completely affordable options, we are able to give them the resources to sustain themselves. That is our initiative; teaching others to fish, while providing them with the fish they need right now.
Some day very soon, we hope there will not be a person who struggles with food insecurity. Until that day, we will help alleviate hunger in The Panhandle.
Hunger in the High Plains:
Map the Meal Gap: a study that shows how many food insecure individuals live in the 29 counties serviced by the High Plains Food Bank. More information here.
Childhood Food Insecurity: The further breakdown of the Map the Meal Gap that shows the rates of food insecurity for children (birth- 18 years). The study concludes that 1 in 4 children are food insecure. More information here .
WHAT IS THE HIGH PLAINS FOOD BANK?
- A non-profit organization that collects and distributes donated, surplus food to agencies in the Texas Panhandle
- Covering over 30,000 square miles of the Texas Panhandle
- In 2010, we distributed 7.2 million pounds of food, the biggest year ever.
- The Food Bank distributes over 650,000 pounds of food each month on average!
- The mission of the High Plains Food Bank is to Alleviate Hunger in the Panhandle
IS THERE A NEED FOR SUCH AN ORGANIZATION IN THE PANHANDLE?
Over 69,500 people in our area live near or below the poverty level, as much as 70% of their income goes towards housing expenses and prescriptions for the elderly, leaving them short of food and hungry
HOW DOES THE FOOD BANK HELP SOLVE THE PROBLEM OF HUNGER?
- Serves as a central clearinghouse for efficient handling of available surplus food
- Collects, sorts and distributes available food to agencies that then provide food to individuals, children, elderly, and handicapped in need
WHERE DOES THE SURPLUS FOOD COME FROM?
- Local and national manufacturers, wholesalers, grocery stores and restaurants
- Local ranchers and feedlot operators
WHY IS THIS FOOD DONATED? It is food that can't be sold. A can may be dented, one egg of a dozen is broken, expiration date is close or the food has been prepared and unserved, yet it is still wholesome food when properly handled.
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