About Us:

The South Texas Food Bank is a non-profit organization established to be part of the communities' hunger fighting network. This means it is a non-governmental agency serving as the central solicitation, collection, processing, warehousing, and distribution center for its more than 150 member agencies and other non-profit organizations that are dedicated to helping those in need.

We are an IRS recognized (501)(c)(3) non-profit organization established to help the poor and hungry with food assistance. It is our job to solicit donations, sort food products, and prepare them for our member agencies to ensure that we meet our common goal.

The Food Bank serves a 12,636 square miles that includes the counties of Webb, Zapata, Dimmit, Maverick, Jim Hogg, Val Verde and Kinney. The combined population of these seven counties is 355,596; (census 2005) of which about 106,109(33.4%) people live at or below the poverty level.

Our Mission:

The South Texas Food Bank seeks to end hunger in South Texas by collecting and distributing food through many partnerships while raising awareness and educating the community on the realities of hunger.

Who we serve:

With your support the Food Bank :

• Provides food to our entire service area which includes the counties of Webb, Zapata, Jim Hogg, Dimmit, Val Verde, Kinney, and Maverick.
  
• Distributes food to over 20,000 families monthly.
  
• Provides food assistance to over 5,000 Senior Citizens monthly.
  
• Serves daily meals to over 750 children.
  
• Serve over 500 veterans a year.
  
• Distributes 8.6 million pounds of food annually through our 150 member non-profit agencies like food pantries, soup kitchens, and homeless shelters.
  

Our History:

The county of Webb has long been recognized as one of the poorest areas in the nation, and the civic minded indivuduals whom lived here knew that something had to be done about it. Over the years they had begun to realize that millions of pounds of food was being thrown away, food that could be used to feed the hungry.

So in December of 1989 the Laredo Webb County Food Bank, now known as the South Texas Food Bank, opened its doors to the community. It has grown from a small operation serving only a hand full of agencies, to serving over 150 member agencies and distributing over 8.5 million pounds of food.

Its first home was in the back of an old grocery store, now known as the HEB Mercado. After several relocations and the help of a grant from the Lamar Bruni Vergara Foundation, the Food Bank found its permanent location; a 37,000 sq.ft. warehouse located on 1907 Freight St.

South Texas Food Bank Board Of Directors:

1. Ed Sherwood (Falcon Bank)

2. Mike Garza (United ISD administrator)

3. Romelia Cardona (Eagle Pass, retired social worker)

4. Odie Arambula (Retired journalist)

5. Galo Garcia (Businessman)

6. Erasmo Villarreal (City of Laredo)

7. Rodrigo Jaime (Carrizo Springs-Asherton commissioner)

8. Jesus Ortiz (Del Rio commissioner)

9. Gaby DeLeon (HEB)

10. Danny Cuellar (CPA)

11. Randy Black (Conoco-Phillips)

12. Aide Brooks (Commerce Bank)

13. Goyo Lopez (Diocese of Laredo)

14. Kevin Romo (State Farm Insurance)

15. Anna Benavides Galo (Businesswoman)

16. Olga Maldonado (AEP-Texas)

Corporation members:

1. Zeke Laurel (Retired)

2. Rene Arriaga (IBC)

3. Zulema Castro (HEB)

4. Manuel Canseco (Golden Corral)

5. Roberto Diaz (First National Bank)

6. Carlos Mata Jr. (Roadway Trucking)

7. Jesus Ruiz (Wendy’s)

8. Edith Galindo (Del Rio-Laredo)

9. Jaime Arizpe (Social worker)

Note: Meetings second Wednesday of month at noon, 1907 Freight.

Officers: Odie Arambula, president; Erasmo Villarrreal, vice president; Danny Cuellar, secretary; Mike Garza, treasurer.