High Plains Food Bank

The blog has moved.....

2011-02-04T15:13:00.002-06:00

join us on our newly redesigned website where we now blog..... http://hpfb.org/blog... see you there!

What a record...

2010-12-20T11:29:00.002-06:00

This year’s Together We Can Holiday Food Drive was an enormous success! We camped out at Market Street United the week of December 6-11 and boy did the community really come out to help us!!! Here is a list of the schools and businesses that participated in the week-long event:

United Supermarkets
Prince of Peace Lutheran Church
Pete’s CarSmart Kia
St. Luke’s Presbyterian
Chaparral Hills Baptist Church, Youth
Happy State Bank
Ruby Tequila’s
Hillside Christian Church
Trinity Fellowship Church – Xtreme
Humphery’s Highland Elementary
Greenway Elementary
FirstBank Southwest
Zachry Engineering
WTAMU Ad/PR Clubs
Phi Theta Kappa (Amarillo College)
Belmar Elementary
Sanborn Elementary
Glenwood Elementary
Austin Middle School
Bank of America
Bushland ISD
Bell Helicopter
Amarillo Area Chapter of Credit Unions
SIFE (WTAMU)
St. Andrews Episcipal School
Tradewinds Elementary
Paramount Terrace Elementary
Nationwide Insurance
Windsor Elementary
Woodland Elementary
Amarillo National Bank
Pantex
Randall High School
River Road High School
Western Plateau Elementary
Carver Academy
Carver Early Childhood Academy
Sleepy Hollow Elementary
Will Rogers Elementary
Crockett Middle School
Canyon High School

Thanks to these and the thousands who came by to make a personal donation, we were able to collect 120,148 pounds of food! Also, we collected $65,253 in cash donations!
Each year Doppler Dave, helps us collect peanut butter and this year was no different, except this year he wanted the people of the Panhandle to collect a ton (2,000 lbs) of peanut butter! The public was so generous, and brought us 2,013 lbs. of peanut buttery goodness! Together We Can, and together WE DID!

The need continues, so you can make food donations at our offices 815 S. Ross, or any United Supermarkets through the end of December. You can make a cash donation at or offices or send a check to PO Box 31803, 79102 and SOON online at hpfb.org!

Merry Christmas from all of us at the High Plains Food Bank! Thank EACH and every one for their generosity to us throughout the year! We are able to meet the needs of the Panhandle because of your generosity!

Getting Everyone Together.....

2010-09-27T13:41:00.003-05:00

It's been a really busy month for us. Between the various food drives, the Tri-State Fair, and the Summer Food Nutrition Program, We have kept a busy schedule. Busy-ness is good, because we really seeing some strides to alleviating hunger in the Panhandle!

One thing we did this past month is have our annual Agency Conference. This is a conference we host once a year. We get all the agencies, that we work with the distribute food through, together in one room. The magnitude of having 160+ agencies in one room is a really moving picture of neighbors helping neighbors. Before you ask, I consider everyone living in The Panhandle region my neighbor. That being said, watching one-man pantries sit next to micro food banks a huge contrast in terms of operation but united in their missions! Getting 200+ people together who are passionate about ending hunger in The Panhandle is exciting and sad at the same time. Exciting because we are partners together; sad because to problem is so vast in so many ways.

The goal of the conference was to equip an train pantries on how to work smarter, access volunteers, and to celebrate the year's successes. They went to classes like: Nonprofit Fundraising 101, Volunteers Helping You Impact Your Community, and Resources for Community and Business Development. At lunch, Dr. Darryl Birkenfeld, Director of Ogallala Commons, talked about "Rebuilding Local Food Sheds." He discussed the value of having a fresh vegetable garden at your disposal. The talk perked the ears of the agencies. Many of them have been looking for ways to acquire fresh vegetable.

This year's Agency Conference was a great way for everyone to reconnect, relearn, and remember why we work so hard to alleviate hunger! Hunger never sleeps and neither shall we. Onward!

Kids Cafe Summer Success

2010-09-10T10:43:00.007-05:00

This summer, The Kids Cafe served the Maverick Boys and Girls Club (the local affiliate to The Boys and Girls Club of America) lunch and dinner serving 16,936 total meals. The children were served homemade meals and fruit and vegetables from The Garden (of The High Plains Food Bank) were incorporated into our daily menus. And yes, the children ate hundreds of pounds of yellow squash, some even coming back for seconds. The meals met USDA guidelines and milk was provided at both meals. This is a nutritional meal that a child might not have access to, but thanks to all of the support from our community and ConAgra Foods the High Plains Food Bank was able to provide to Maverick every day the club was open.

At the beginning of the summer the Kids Cafe served San Jacinto Elementary kids 2,984 breakfast to these children meeting USDA guidelines. Milk, fresh fruit, and a grain daily kick starts the morning before a fun filled day of learning.

On Saturdays the Kids Cafe provided a bag lunch to a group of kids at Alice Landergin in the months of June and July in partnership with St Stephens United Methodist Church. The kids had many opportunities to learn and play on these mornings ending the day with a lunch. Several of the kids loved the cookies. We ended the program with a hamburger cook out and what a turn out we had! All the smiles and full bellies made it worth the work and heat the volunteers put into it.

To put it into perspective, when school is out, so are school lunches. We were able to give kids a good meal and they were not hungry. As a basic need, hunger is too often a well-known acquaintance to children in Amarillo. Thanks to the generous support of those living in the Amarillo, we were able to impact lives with full tummies!

THANK YOU for all your support!!

Leigh Fuller

Director of Kids Cafe

See more about the Kids Cafe summer program, read the following article by the Amarillo Globe News: http://http://amarillo.com/lifestyle/our-town/2010-09-01/kids-cafe-serves-1000-plus-dinners-daily

739,000 pounds

2010-09-09T14:27:00.004-05:00

739,000 pounds. This is what the High Plains Food Bank distributed in July 2010. 690,000 pounds: this is the amount of food inventory that the food bank carries on average each month. As you can see, we are in need of food donations to keep us going. With the need for assistance at its highest in almost 10 years, we need your help to continue to fight hunger. Please be on the lookout for our blue, food collection barrels around town (between now and the end of the year). Please help us out by donating or starting a food drive. Every food item counts!

Zack Wilson
Executive Director

Armenian Cucumbers

2010-09-02T10:08:00.006-05:00

This year The Garden planted Armenian cucumbers. What is an Armenian cucumber you ask? Well, that question was asked over and over between staff and others looking at the massive vegetables. Unlike traditional cucumbers, the Armenian variety have a sweeter flavor, lighter skin, and can produce quality meat even when very large. This is a low water consumer and loves the sun. This tasty cucumber is a great economical choice for a home gardener. This picture shows a healthy crop of the ones growing in our Garden (it's 24" long).

The Taste

Armenian Cucumbers have a sweeter flavor profile, but still have that cucumber flavor you know and recognize. The great thing for the Food Bank is the skin does not need to be peeled, saving valuable staff and volunteer time. Since the taste is so similar, you can use the Armenian variety anywhere you already use cucumbers. Here are some great, simple recipes that you can use Armenian cucumbers in.

Simple Garden Salad: http://cookeatshare.com/recipes/armenian-garden-salad-69418

Traditional Moroccan dish: http://moroccanfood.about.com/od/saladsandsidedishes/r/feggous_salad.htm

Happy Dining!

The Garden Team at The High Plains Food Bank

Food stamps and child nutrition: we cannot afford to lose any ground

2010-08-05T09:25:00.003-05:00

A report out today in the Boston Globe details how Americans are still hurting and trying to recover from the recent economic downturn: the number of food stamp participants reached 40.8 million in May. This is up 19 percent from this time last year. So what does this mean? More than one eighth of the population receives will receive food stamp assistance through this year. We need to get people the assistance they need to help us recover as we come out of this recession. We also need to alleviate hunger by stepping up to the "plate" by distributing more food to children and families in need.

This is where Child Nutrition Reauthorization (CNR) comes into play. To help access and support thousands of nutrition programs and food banks across the country, Congress needs to pass a strong child nutrition bill. However, Congress is currently taking up a measure to pay for CNR by cutting food stamps. This is totally unacceptable. We cannot afford to cut assistance that millions of people depend on to survive to pay for anything. This is critical: please join me in telling Congress to not continue with this proposal. Please reference the tips below from Congress. org. Please call today!

*To find your senators' and representative's phone numbers, you may use our searchable online congressional directory or call the U.S. Capitol Switchboard at (202)224-3121 and ask for your senators' and/or representative's office.

Remember that telephone calls are usually taken by a staff member, not the member of Congress. Ask to speak with the aide who handles the issue about which you wish to comment. After identifying yourself, tell the aide you would like to leave a brief message, such as: "Please tell Senator/Representative (Name) that I oppose (S.___/H.R.___)." You will also want to state reasons for your support or opposition to the bill. Ask for your senators' or representative's position on the bill. You may also request a written response to your telephone call.*

*-Courtesy of Congress.org

Bruce Beck: a passion for helping; a love for his community

2010-04-23T07:33:00.006-05:00

Last night we learned that Bruce Beck, the Our Town section editor for the Amarillo Globe-News, passed away from his fight with cancer. At first, the news leaves a gaping hole in our spirits. The loss of such a good man is a big setback for the community of Amarillo - and the Texas Panhandle. However, the celebration of Bruce's life and his contribution to the community through his column and Our Town section will never be forgotten; in fact, it will always live on.

The non-profit community of Amarillo and the Texas Panhandle got to know Bruce very well. It was Bruce's interest in each organization's mission that he conveyed in his writing for the Amarillo Globe-News. His stories helped spread the awareness of how different organizations helped people in need throughout the Texas Panhandle. However, it was the love of his community that made the passion of his writing really reach out and grab readers. Bruce was a friend to everyone and he showed that wherever he traveled.

Bruce was also a long-time friend of the High Plains Food Bank. I first met Bruce in 2006. I had only worked at the High Plains Food Bank for one year and I was still getting to know everyone around me. The Food Bank was continuing its efforts to distribute disaster relief products for Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. It was during a large donation from Tyson Foods, Inc that I got to talk to Bruce for the first time. I'll never forget the first thing he said to me. After exchanging hand-shakes and names, Bruce looked into the 18-wheeler truck and stated: "Wow, that's a lot of protein. It's great to see all the folks that will benefit from this!" Bruce was thinking just like a food banker: he was looking at the nutritional content and the importance its use would be to the community.

Bruce helped the High Plains Food Bank continuously. In fact, it was not unusual for me to receive an e-mail from Bruce wanting to know information about food drives, events, food/money donations, the number of people we were serving and about the Food Bank in general. He wanted me to e-mail him every week with new information so he could publish it in Our Town.

Bruce became a Food Bank honorary staff member. At least a hand-full of times during a busy press conference at the Food Bank, Bruce would chip in and lead people on tours of the Food Bank. If you were to walk in off the street and see Bruce, you would see him as he was to us: an honorary member of the staff, not a newspaper editor.

Even when Bruce began battling cancer, he was always there when you needed him. One shining quality about Bruce was his smile - a smile that never faded. His love for the community and the people who lived in it were other amazing qualities Bruce exhibited. With Bruce, "shooting the breeze" was always something I looked forward to. Bruce could even make talking about the weather fun and very entertaining. Always after the conversation was over, Bruce would give his signature smile and say in a calming, father-like voice: "Bye bye".

Bruce, we at the High Plains Food Bank will miss you dearly. I can speak for the entire community when I say there has only been one Bruce and there will never be another. Even though you are not here with us any more physically, you will always be with us because of your generosity and selfless giving. A tour of the Food Bank will also never be the same again. We miss you buddy - thank you for all that you did for the community. You will always be missed.

Zack Wilson
High Plains Food Bank
Director of Communications

2010 Hunger Study results of the Texas Panhandle released

2010-02-02T14:46:00.003-06:00

Today, the High Plains Food Bank released the findings of its 2010 Hunger in the Texas Panhandle study, in coordination with Feeding America, the nation's largest domestic hunger-relief organization. The methodology incorporated into the 2010 study includes data collected from February through June 2009. The High Plains Food Bank conducted face-to-face interviews with over 300 people seeking emergency food at food pantries, soup kitchens and other emergency feeding programs, as well as interviews with more than 126 agencies that provide food assistance.

The results are staggering: 56 percent of people who receive emergency food assistance through the Food Bank's agencies are food insecure - meaning each has experienced hunger at least once in the past month. This is a startling 15 percent increase from 2005. Among households with children, 67 percent surveyed are food insecure. This is an astounding 31 percent increase since 2005. Of clients surveyed, 56 percent had to choose between paying for food and paying for utilities/bills.

The results of the hunger study are overwhelming. We need to come together more than ever to help fight hunger in the Texas Panhandle. To review the summary of results, please click here.

Nearly 20 percent of people in our extended area unable to afford enough food

2010-01-26T10:52:00.003-06:00

New data from the Gallop organization reveals some startling facts about hunger in our area. About 18.6 percent of households in our Congressional District (U.S. Dist #13) reported not having enough money to buy food that they needed for themselves or their family in 2009.

For the first time ever, this data on "food hardship" - the inability to afford enough food - was made available by the DC-based Food Research and Action Center (FRAC) for every Texas Congressional District and for the Austin, Dallas, Houston and San Antonio metro areas.

The "food hardship" uncovered by the survey is similar to "food insecurity" data provided annually by the USDA, only more localized and up-to-date. Gallup's ability to provide such data comes from interviews undertaken as part of the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index project. Specific to this report, more than 530,000 Americans were asked whether there were times over the preceding year that they did not have enough money to buy the food they needed.

This report also details the continued need for the High Plains Food Bank distributing food to those in need throughout the Texas Panhandle.

How much is 500,000 pounds of food?

2010-01-14T15:07:00.003-06:00

When you look at how many pounds leaves the High Plains Food Bank each month for our member agencies, it's easy to see a number. However, how many meals are being provided to those in need? The goal for the High Plains Food Bank is to distribute 500,000 pounds of food each month. Most importantly, this is approximately 400,000 meals that could be provided! Your donation of food to the Food Bank helps us get closer to our goal each month.

Food distribution totals for 2009 and outlook for this year

2010-01-07T14:01:00.003-06:00

The totals are in: total food distribution for the High Plains Food Bank was 4,758,642 pounds in 2009. This averages to slightly less than 400,000 pounds of food distributed each month. Last year contained two months of record-setting food distribution. In July and October, the Food Bank distributed over 500,000 pounds of food! Even though our 2009 distribution only increased 10 percent from the year before, 2010 is shaping up to be a record-setting year for food distribution.

Due to the sharp increase in demand for food from the High Plains Food Bank in 2009 (upwards of 40 percent), our trucks were running at maximum capacity. However, we reached our capacity limit for food delivery in 2009. At times, we were sending three out of our five 24' trucks on rural food deliveries. Our trucks were so full, we could not squeeze another item inside. The demand continued to increase and our agencies could have received more food items (if we had the room).

New program partnerships with United Supermarkets and Wal-Mart gave the Food Bank much needed perishable food items such as cheese, milk, salad, fruits, juice, deli food items, frozen meat and baked goods. This helped increase our distribution of more nutritious, fresh food items.

However, when you combine the above two paragraphs (more food but - at times - limited delivery capacity), you find that more food could have gone out if the space was available. To help solve this problem, the Food Bank has purchased a used 18-wheeler truck/trailer. This will help us more than double our delivery capacity to our 27 rural counties!

Our food distribution goal for 2010 is to distribute 6 million pounds of food (or 500,000 pounds of food a month). With our increased space, the High Plains Food Bank will distribute as much fresh, nutritious food as possible each day to help meet the need in the Texas Panhandle. Look for our 18-wheeler out on the road beginning in January 2010!

Getting involved with a food drive this holiday season

2009-11-24T08:57:00.002-06:00

The High Plains Food Bank welcomes and needs community involvement in order to keep helping those in need. Our caring, generous community created the High Plains Food Bank in 1982, and the people of the Texas Panhandle continue to make it possible to feed the hungry in our 30,000 square-mile service area!

In any given week, the High Plains Food Bank assists 13,500 people through our emergency food programs and partners. This is why the Together We Can Holiday Food Drive is a perfect time for your business, organization or church to become involved in a food drive.

Getting Started: conduct a food and/or fund drive just before the Together We Can Holiday Food Drive (anytime before Dec. 7th). Set your goals, register your drive with the food bank, print food drive flyers, order collection barrels, promote the food drive and announce the results. If you would like, you could also deliver the food drive items to us at our drop-off location (Market Street United).

Food Drive flyers: see "Resource Center" section below to download

Order Collection barrels: see "Resource Center" section below to order barrels or click here

Food Drive Guide: involve the leaders, promote the drive to employees, make participation easy, have some friendly competition, build momentum and celebrate your success

Creative Incentives: blue jean Friday, an hour off, leave work early, an extended lunch, an extra hour to Christmas shop, forgive a tardy, a department pizza party, a movie day, etc

Creative Events: skip a meal in honor of those going hungry, challenge departments, a canned item sculpture, see how many of the same items you can collect, hold a drawing for a special prize for those bringing the most items, etc

Help the High Plains Food Bank during the Together We Can Holiday Food Drive

2009-11-18T14:44:00.001-06:00

The holiday season is right around the corner and for many people in the Texas Panhandle, this year continues to be a very tough year. As the United States (and the Texas Panhandle) continues to go through economic difficulty, many people are in need more than ever. Even with the holiday season approaching, people are still struggling. Over 68,000 people live on or below the poverty line in the Texas Panhandle.

You can help the High Plains Food Bank combat hunger during these tough times. From Dec. 7-12, 2009, the High Plains Food Bank will hold its 15th annual Together We Can Holiday Food Drive at Market Street United in Amarillo. The Food Drive is a community-wide effort to collect food and funds to help feed those in need in the Texas Panhandle. Your support will help the Food Bank as we assist over 8,000 families on average per month!

You can drop off your food or money donation at Market Street United in Amarillo (2530 South Georgia Street). Volunteers will be on hand from 8:00 a.m. to 10:30 p.m., Dec. 7-11th and 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Dec. 12th to accept your donations. Your donation will go directly to help feed those in need throughout the 26 counties of the Texas Panhandle!

Our Goals: to raise 24,000 pounds of food and $40,000 during our Food Drive (Dec. 7-12)

What is Needed: canned vegetables and fruit; canned meat; canned soups; canned chilis & stews; boxed dinners; cereal; peanut butter; rice; pinto beans; pasta and pasta sauce; paper products; personal hygiene items

It's really easy to help out during the Together We Can Holiday Food Drive. Decide what you would like to donate: cash or food items. For every $1 donated, the Food Bank can access $5 worth of food (or provide 4 meals)!

Over 49 million Americans at risk of hunger, new USDA data finds

2009-11-17T09:11:00.001-06:00

16.3 percent of Texans lived in households at risk of hunger between 2006 and 2008, up 1.5 percent from the prior period, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) annual report released today. Nationally, more than 49.1 million people lived in such “food insecure” households in 2008 – up from 36.2 million in 2007 and the highest number on record.

“This is a wake-up call for Texas,” said Eric S. Cooper, President of the Texas Food Bank Network and CEO of the San Antonio Food Bank. “It’s discouraging to know that despite all of our efforts, the number of hungry Texans continues to rise. We need to get serious about addressing this problem through sound public policy and investment in statewide partnerships.”

Because of the timing of the survey, the new data in the report represents 2008, early in the recession. That number today is almost undoubtedly worse. A recent survey of Texas food banks found skyrocketing demand statewide, with most food banks reporting growth of at least one third, and all reporting a significantly higher number of first-time clients.

While the number of Texans struggling to put food on the table has grown, the state’s troubles have been compounded by massive issues with the administration of federal SNAP (food stamps) benefits. Currently, 41% of all applicants must wait longer than a month to receive help.

“This is the time when we most need these public structures to work,” said JC Dwyer, State Policy Coordinator for the Texas Food Bank Network. “The food banks are grateful to be working with HHSC to help develop solutions, but a long-term fix will also require the state legislature to take this problem seriously.”

TDA Commissioner Todd Staples, HHSC Commissioner Tom Suehs and high-ranking officials from USDA plan to meet with advocates and charitable providers at a statewide hunger summit Thursday in Waco to discuss the new numbers.

Food insecure does not mean "hungry right now," "going to bed hungry tonight," or "not knowing where your next meal is coming from.

Food insecure does mean "facing hunger," "at risk of hunger," or "forced to decide between food an other necessities (medicine, rent, utilities etc).

Locally, the High Plains Food Bank has seen a 37 percent increase in demand since the beginning of 2009. The Food Bank is currently assisting over 8,000 on average each month. In October, the Food Bank distributed over 500,000 pounds of food. This was the highest one-month distribution to date.

To view the full report, please click here.

Sign up for our Community Garden e-mail list for updates!

2009-10-01T09:07:00.003-05:00

You can now sign up for updates on the High Plains Food Bank's community garden. If you're looking for volunteer opportunities, gardening tips or just the current news about the garden, then you need to sign up today!

Once subscribed, you will be in touch with Morgan Dezendorf, the Food Bank's Community Garden Volunteer Coordinator. The community garden will be active throughout the fall and winter seasons as well.

Simply click here to visit our web page. Look for the "Sign up for our garden e-mail newsletter" and enter your e-mail address in the box. It's that simple!

Tri-State Fair helps the High Plains Food Bank this Friday

2009-09-15T09:58:00.001-05:00

Fall temperatures are already here so that means only one thing...it's time for the annual Tri-State Fair! The High Plains Food Bank also has a great way you can help people in need this month as well. The Tri-State Fair and the High Plains Food Bank have teamed up together again for a special promotion on Friday, Sept. 18th (opening night)! Bring 6 cans of food on Friday (anytime between 4-9 p.m.) and receive an unlimited ride wristband for $20. This is a great opportunity for you to help the High Plains Food Bank and enjoy the Tri-State Fair. Come out and support the Food Bank this Friday night!

Your help is needed for Kids Cafe

2009-09-11T10:09:00.003-05:00

As we start a new school year, Kids Cafe is gearing up for another year of helping feed our most precious commodity: our children.

Many children do not receive the nutritious meals that their bodies need to function during the day. If a child is not receiving adequate nutrition, it can directly effect their performance in school. An empty stomach causes a child to grow tired and not think and focus on daily activities. It can also cause a lack of energy which can directly effect their grades.

To combat childhood hunger, the High Plains Food Bank's Kids Cafe program has four locations in Amarillo Independent School District elementary schools. We prepare the meals but we need volunteers to serve them. We currently serve over 500 children each weekday night in our Amarillo locations.

Please considering volunteering an hour of your time - that's all it takes. If you like volunteering after the first time, please consider making it a daily, weekly or monthly tradition. Your time will help feed children in need.

For more information on how to volunteer and to see the opportunities available, please visit our web site by clicking here. Once on our web site, you can scroll down to "Kids Cafe" to see more information.

Poverty rates on the rise

2009-09-10T14:38:00.003-05:00

Poverty rates jumped to 13.2 percent according to a Census Bureau report released on Sept. 10th. This is the highest level in poverty rates since 1997 and the first statistically significant annual increase since 2004.

About 39.8 million Americans were in poverty in 2008 (which is up from 37.3 million Americans in poverty in 2007). The almost 1 percent increase in poverty rates also does not reflect the effects of the recession that continues in 2009. According to the Census Bureau, Texas is estimated to have 15.9 percent poverty level.

The "Income, Poverty, and Health Insurance Coverage in the United States: 2008" report also detailed a decrease in the real median household income. Household income declined 3.6 percent between 2007 & 2008 from $52,163 to $50,303.

You can view the full report by clicking here

Economy has changed eating, cooking habits: survey

2009-09-04T10:40:00.003-05:00

the article below is taken from Meat & Poultry business journal:

AUSTIN, TEXAS – As a result of the struggling economy, two out of three U.S. adults have changed their cooking and eating habits, with about half eating dinner at home more often and more than one-third budgeting food shopping trips more strictly, according to Whole Foods Market’s annual Food Shopping Trends Tracker (online) survey conducted by Harris Interactive.

Most respondents (76%) said they do not want to compromise on the quality of the food they buy, regardless of current food prices. Seventy-five percent also continue to purchase natural and/or organic foods in the same quantities as they always have, nearly two-thirds (65%) of consumers surveyed say they would like to find ways to be able to buy these foods within their budget.

"We recognize shoppers should be able to cut costs, not corners when buying natural and organic foods," said A.C. Gallo, co-president and chief operating officer for Whole Foods Market. "This research is in sync with what we are seeing right now with our customers as they are taking advantage of our in-store value programs and specials, and they are turning to us for meal planning and ideas more than ever before, especially via our website."

This survey was conducted online in the U.S. by Harris Interactive on behalf of Whole Foods Market Inc. between July 31 and Aug. 4, 2009. Survey's respondents included 2,188 adults (18 and older). Of those respondents, 441 are the parents with children between ages 3 and 17.

Courtesy: meatpoultry.com (original link)

High Plains Food Bank on Twitter, Facebook

2009-09-04T10:32:00.002-05:00

Are you looking for an easy way to connect with the High Plains Food Bank? Want to find out what is going on at the food bank and get the latest announcements on upcoming events? The High Plains Food Bank is now on Twitter and Facebook. Follow us on Twitter and become a fan of our Facebook page (both are free to join!). Stay up-to-date on the latest hunger-fighting news in the Texas Panhandle.

Links: Twitter, Facebook

No weekend plans? Here's some ideas!

2009-08-21T09:34:00.002-05:00

The High Plains Food Bank has some great ideas for you this weekend. You can get out and enjoy food and entertainment and still help the Food Bank at the same time!

Beginning tonight, Friday, August 21st: come out to the Amarillo College Experimental Theatre and enjoy a great production "Above the Sun" presented by Merely Players. Opening night is tonight! Merely Players will donate 10 percent of the proceeds to the High Plains Food Bank. Also, bring food donations as well. The Food Bank will provide collection barrels for food donations. To see a list of dates for all performances, please click here

Tomorrow, Saturday, Aug. 22nd: Chick-Fil-A nugget-eating contest - come out and cheer KFDA/NewsChannel 10 as they participate in the contest and help to raise proceeds for the High Plains Food Bank! Come by and support KFDA, see our booth and enjoy great food! More details...

Updated assistance numbers

2009-08-20T09:27:00.003-05:00

Today at noon, the Direct Mobile Distribution (DMD) will deliver family boxes to the town of Spearman. Twenty families are scheduled to pick up 30-pound boxes. The family boxes consist of canned vegetables, fruit, egg beaters, cereal, cookies and a 5-pound turkey. Other items will be included as well.

Yesterday, the High Plains Food Bank delivered family boxes to 20 families in Claude (Armstrong county). On Tuesday of this week, the Food Bank also delivered 144 family boxes to 86 families in Memphis (Hall county).

Our DMD program continues to help those in need throughout our rural counties. Even with the above distribution rate, there are still approximately 75 percent of people in these counties who have not received assistance.

"Above the Sun" production to help Food Bank

2009-08-19T13:44:00.001-05:00

The theatre company Merely Players present "Above the Sun" on August 21,23,28,29 and 30. The show is an original production by one of the cast members based on readings from the Old Testament. Merely Players will also donate 10 percent of the show's ticket sales to the High Plains Food Bank. Merely Players also asks everyone to bring contributions for the Food Bank to the show as well! This is a great way to get involved and help the Food Bank this month! If you have any questions or need additional information, please see below:

Above the Sun
A Drama created by the Players and Poetry of the Old Testament
Based on an idea by Heidi Stricker
With original music by Stacy and Dean Yates
August 21, 28 & 29 - 7:30 p.m.
August 23 & 30 - 3:00 p.m.
Amarillo College Experimental Theatre
For tickets, please call 358-6214 or e-mail: merelyplayers@suddenlink.net

Chick-Fil-A nugget-eating contest

2009-08-18T08:13:00.003-05:00

Chick-Fil-A will be holding a nugget-eating contest this Saturday, Aug. 22 to benefit charities across the area. Hal Leedy, owner of Chick-Fil-A on 4510 S Coulter Street will donate 10 percent of the store's profits for the day of the competition as the prize. The competition runs 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

KFDA/NewsChannel 10 is one of the many teams that has entered into the contest. KFDA has chosen the High Plains Food Bank as its benefit charity for the event! This means the more nuggets KDFA's team eats, the more the food bank benefits! Chick-Fil-A is also a food donor to the High Plains Food Bank on a regular basis.

Come out the Saturday and cheer on KFDA as they eat for the food bank. Also, come out and enjoy breakfast, lunch or supper at Chick-Fil-A as a portion of the day's proceeds will go to the food bank and other charities in our area! The High Plains Food Bank will have a booth at the event. Come by and see us!

Food Bank Community Garden: tomorrow and beyond

2009-08-17T13:46:00.002-05:00

On Friday, August 14, 2009, the High Plains Food Bank launched its community garden with the kickoff event "Day of Caring". The Food Bank's community garden sits on approximately 1.5 acres of land between 8th and 9th Avenues (on the north/south) and Ross and Osage Streets (on the east/west). The garden is located on the same city block as the High Plains Food Bank; the Food Bank purchased the land the garden sits on earlier in 2009.

The community garden is cooperative effort between the High Plains Food Bank and the High Plains Institute for Applied Ecology (HPI). The goal for the garden is two-fold: to provide our agencies and the community with garden-fresh produce and to utilize the natural assets the earth has to offer by planting and growing in an eco-friendly manner.

The community garden is one of the first "green" gardens in the community. Workers will help ensure that the garden can be utilized continuously by using elevated planting beds (or lasagna beds/gardening) - see main photo above. By using lasagna-style gardening, no digging or tilling is required for planting the vegetables*. This is because the "bed" is compiled of a wide variety of materials (grass clippings, leaves, fruit and vegetable scraps, coffee grounds, tea leaves and tea bags, weeds-if they haven't gone to seed, manure, compost, seaweed, shredded newspaper or junk mail, pine needles, spent blooms, trimmings from the garden, peat moss, etc*) and is elevated off the ground.

There are many advantages of the lasagna-style of gardening*:

Less work-intensive
Few weeds, thanks to the newspaper suppressing them from below and the mulch covering the soil from above.
Better water retention, due to the fact that compost (which is what you made by layering all of those materials) holds water better than regular garden soil, especially if your native soil is sandy or deficient in organic matter.
Less need for fertilizer, because you planted your garden in almost pure compost, which is very nutrient-rich.
Soil that is easy to work: crumbly, loose, and fluffy.
Most of all: it is very eco-friendly

The High Plains Food Bank will use the produce to distribute to our 161 agencies throughout the Texas Panhandle. The community garden will also be used to supplement our Kids Cafe program with fresh produce. The Food Bank is also working on other plans to best utilize the garden (more details coming soon). Most importantly, it's a great way to distribute food to those in need because it came straight from the earth in which we live.

Texas Musical Drama food drive

2009-08-12T16:08:00.003-05:00

A great way to help the High Plains Food Bank is to go see the classic musical drama "Texas" in Palo Duro Canyon. Bring six cans of food to the Wednesday and/or Sunday show and you will receive 1/2 off any ticket. It's that simple. Go see a great musical and help feed those in need in the Texas Panhandle at the same time.

Assistance update: Direct Mobile Distribution service

2009-08-11T16:50:00.003-05:00

Here's a quick update on how the Direct Mobile Distribution (DMD) is helping those in need in the Texas Panhandle: 160 families in four Texas Panhandle counties receive much-needed assistance from DMD. The family size can range from one person to 10 people! These households are considered food insecure (no stable or consistant source where the family receives food). It is very critical that we keep our food distribution strong to help those in need in these areas.

Day of Caring 2009

2009-08-10T14:56:00.003-05:00

The High Plains Food Bank, The High Plains Institute for Applied Ecology (HPI) and the United Way of Amarillo/Canyon are proud to announce the 2009 Day of Caring. This year's project will be located at the Food Bank's Community Garden from 7:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. The Food Bank is very excited to team up with HPI and United Way to go green this year. For information, please visit the link above or the enclosed URL link.

Food stamp list tops 34 million people

2009-08-06T14:16:00.004-05:00

For the first time ever, more than 34 million people are on food stamps. This means that one in nine Americans receives assistance via food stamps. Enrollment on the program surged two percent from May with record gains in every state. This is up from January 2009's numbers of 32.2 million people on food stamps.

Read the full story here.

Personal testimonials: Direct Mobile Distribution

2009-08-06T14:06:00.003-05:00

Below is a small glimpse at the problem of hunger in the Texas Panhandle. Most importantly, these stories came from people who are in need right now.

Spearman, TX: with our Direct Mobile Distribution Service, one woman was so happy to receive her 32 pound family box full of food, she cried. After taking the food home and placing it in her refrigerator, she called her friends, family and told them how happy she was to have food in her refrigerator. She said it felt like Christmas all over again.

Vega, TX: a woman was very happy to receive toothpaste in her family box. It was also the exact kind she needed: sensitive toothpaste. She stated she also heard about sensitive toothpaste but never had it in her home because she couldn't afford it.

Vega, TX: another woman would previously go to the restaurant in town and buy several hamburgers one day. She would then come home and divide the hamburgers into rations so she could eat off of them the entire week.

These are true stories of hunger at work in the Panhandle. However, it's also shows that your food or money donation really does go to help those in need.

hunger news stories

2009-08-05T16:09:00.003-05:00

We are constantly monitoring news stories from across the country (and world) to keep you up-to-date on the issue of hunger. As the issue of hunger grows nationwide, we will relate it to the Texas Panhandle and how you can help. As you can see in the picture, our coverage area is extensive. Stay here for the latest updates...

Direct Mobile Distribution

2009-08-04T16:24:00.002-05:00

Did you know that the Food Bank uses a direct mobile distribution for some of our rural areas? For these areas that do not have a partner agency in place with the Food Bank, we go in with our truck and distribute boxes of food to families. We work closely in conjunction with county governments to set up the distribution but at the end of the day, it's the person in need that is helped. Right now, our direct mobile distribution reaches into the following counties: Armstrong, Hall, Hansford and Oldham county. Our Rural Delivery Service reaches into the remaining 25 counties in the Texas Panhandle. We will continue to find more and more ways to get food to people in need throughout the Texas Panhandle. This is our goal, our mission and our mind-set.

Assistance still on the rise

2009-08-03T14:26:00.002-05:00

We're almost halfway through August (very hard to believe), and the Food Bank is still seeing an increase in assistance. We are holding steady between 6,000 and 8,000 families per month (on average) that are receiving assistance through our partner agencies. Our phones ring daily with at least 5-10 calls wanting to know how to receive assistance. Most are seeking help for the first time. The need is great, and it is reflecting in our distribution. In July 2009, the Food Bank distributed over 446,000 pounds of food - up 19 percent from this same time in 2008. This is a small example on how we need everyone's help. More coming on how the High Plains Food Bank is finding ways to better distribute food to our rural communities.

Welcome to the Food Bank

2009-07-31T15:59:00.002-05:00

We are hoping through this new blog that people will realize that "hunger does have a face". It could be your neighbor, your grandparents, or your friends. Hunger is something that few people talk about. They don't want their friends or family to know they may need help. Have you noticed your friends at church or your congregation? Be aware and listen, you may find out something you didn't know.

Janie

food bank blogging comes to the High Plains

2009-07-31T14:52:00.002-05:00

The High Plains Food Bank has begun its journey into the blogging world. We are very excited at all the advantages that technology brings. For us, this means reaching out to you on an "almost" daily basis. In the future, you will see us spreading the word about hunger in the Texas Panhandle, how you can help and most of all: how we are striving to make gains in the battle against hunger everyday. Since we service over 155 partner agencies throughout the 29 counties of the Texas Panhandle, we always have a report to share. Through this blog, you will be able to link to our other communication vehicles (such as Twitter) and also receive information and updates from Janie Singleton, our Executive Director. Please join us - we look forward to staying connected!

Zack