First-of-its kind minority outreach mobile pantry program to deliver food to underserved neighborhoods
HOUSTON-– Houston Food Bank’s newest Mobile Pantry, donated is specifically to reach African-Americans in Houston who are food insecure, made its debut and first distribution on Thursday, February 21st in the Greater Fifth Ward neighborhood.
The mobile pantry is a farmers-market-on-wheels that delivers fresh fruits, vegetables, proteins and dairy products to food-insecure families living in targeted minority neighborhoods.
This truck is part of a nationwide fleet being rolled out by Kraft Foods Foundation (now known as Mondelçz International Foundation) and Feeding America, the nation’s leading hunger-relief organization, to reach those hardest hit with food insecurity African-American and Latino populations. This is the first-of-its kind minority outreach mobile pantry program to deliver food to underserved neighborhoods.
According to the USDA, one in four families within these groups is considered food insecure, versus one in six in the general population.
And the rate for children at risk for food insecurity within these groups is around one in three. In Houston, 18.4% of our neighbors are food insecure, and nearly half of the people the Houston Food Bank helps to feed are children.
Key partner in this kick-off event are Kraft Foods, Feeding America, Houston Food Bank and Kroger.
Other services are being provided by the Houston Food Bank are Nutrition Education and food stamps outreach; Family Services of Houston, financial assistance; Harris County Health, Gold Card applications; Texas Children’s Hospital, Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP); WIC Clinic, Clinic information and education; Mexican Consulate, Immigration resources; Kroger Food Stores, health screenings by pharmacists & volunteers handing out healthy snacks & water; Reliant, Electricity / billing assistance (pending) and, hearing tests, dental screenings and low-cost dental insurance.
Now operating from a new, 308,000 square-foot facility, the Houston Food Bank is the nation’s largest size Feeding America food bank and source of food for hunger relief charities in 18 southeast Texas counties. For more information on the mobile craft or other provided services, call (713) 223-3700.
