South Texas Food Bank cited for survey participation

2/15/2013 10:00:00 AM by Salo Otero

The South Texas Food Bank mission is to feed the hungry. With more than 30 percent of South Texas residents living below the poverty guidelines, the hungry are plentiful. And equally important as the mission to feed the hungry is to bring awareness that hungry people exist in our own backyard. “If you or I have never been hungry, it’s sometimes hard to convince others that there are hungry in our community,” says a South Texas Food Bank spokesperson.

Bringing the hunger issue to the forefront via documentation is key. Three South Texas Food Bank employees were recognized at the February monthly board meeting at Commerce Bank by Feeding America and the Texas Department of Health and Human Resources for their role in gathering information to support that there is food insecurity among our residents. The three are Elia Solis, Leticia Garcia and Sylvia Giron.

Solis, the STFB ‘s agency coordinator, earned mention from Feeding America, Garcia and Giron, based with the South Texas Food Bank in Eagle Pass, were praised by the Texas Health and Human Resources
Commission (HHSC). Solis was cited for having 94 percent participation from South Texas Food Bank agencies in gathering hunger study information. The mark ranks second in the state among the 21-strong Texas Food Bank Network and No. 7 in the nation among 200-plus in Feeding America. The hungry study will be conducted in 2014. Garcia and Giron, who run the outreach Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerl y food stamps) in Maverick County-Eagle Pass, were recognized by the state. They had a 90 percent success rate in qualifying residents filling out SNAP applications. The STFB was one of two picked for a pilot program in partnership with Texas food banks. The other food bank was Capitol Area Food Bank in Austin. The Austin success rate was 65 percent.

South Texas Food Bank board president Kevin Romo applauded Solis, Garcia and Giron, who received certificates of appreciation from executive director Alfonso Casso. STFB chief financial officer Mike Kazen noted the importance of surveys. “It is useful information for requesting funding,” Kazen said. “It highlights the significance of our residents’ needs.”

Casso reported H.E.B. again led the 2012 food donor list with 1,061,044 (1.06 million) pounds. Interglobal Solutions (517,844 pounds), Walmart-Sam’s (465,079), Vilore (254,136) and Tanjore (239,454) followed H.E.B. and the South Texas Food Bank served an average of 26,000 families per month in an eight-county area.

The South Texas Food Bank distributed 865,037 pounds of product in January to bring the four-month fiscal year total to 3,065,590 (3.065 million) pounds. Converted to meals, the mark is 2,554,658 (2.55 million) meals. This year, the STFB has served 73,260 families, including 54,989 children, 115,414 adults and 179,983 meals.

Program numbers for the month are 453 bags distributed via adopt a family and 6,887 in the elderly Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP). More than 1,270 are in the combined adopt a family and CSFP waiting list. Supplement al Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) applications were 210, representing 266 adults, 314 children. The Kids Café at 15 sites served an after school meal to 728 children Monday through Friday and 173 emergency walk-in bags were distributed, representing 321 adults, 314 children.

Tax deductible donatons can be mailed to the South Texas Food Bank, 1907 Freight, Laredo, Texas 78041. The phone number is (956) 726-3120 and website www.southtexasfoodbank.org

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