North Texas Food Bank expands to help more hungry families

FORT WORTH, Texas — For eight hours a day, six days per week, meals is collected, sorted, inventoried and boxed for distribution contained in the Tarrant County Food Bank.

Stephen Raeside serves because the chief improvement officer for The Tarrant County Food Bank. He’s watched the necessity for meals amongst North Texas families develop and fluctuate. Raeside stated he believes there isn’t any purpose why anybody in our neighborhood ought to go hungry. 

“Hunger has grown as the population has grown, even without the impact of the pandemic, inflation, and other factors,” Raeside stated.

Right now, one out of six individuals in the neighborhood is vulnerable to going hungry. When you think about youngsters, the quantity hits house a bit more durable. 

“One out of four children, that is roughly 200 thousand children. Hunger tends to be quiet in America,” stated Raeside. 

But Food Bank employees haven’t stayed quiet about needing more house. They have outgrown the present facility, even with having distribution work away from their foremost headquarters. This week, Fort Worth metropolis council members approved more than $3 million for enlargement. The cash will help buy this empty constructing close to the meals financial institution.

Authorize the Execution of a Contract with the Tarrant Area Food Bank in an quantity of up to $3,200,000.00 to Acquire the Property and Building at 205 N. Vacek Street, in Order to Expand its Capacity for Food Acquisition and Distribution in its Service Area.

“When this new building opens, we will be able to distribute 20 million pounds of fresh fruits and vegetables in the first year alone,” Stephen Raeside stated.

The meals financial institution serves 13 counties in North Texas. Their distribution covers 10 thousand sq. miles. They present meals to half-a-million individuals regularly. Raeside stated the enlargement will even enhance their potential to present higher diet to families they function effectively.  The turnaround time for meals donated or bought by the meals financial institution is about 72 hours to get it to recipients.

The Tarrant County Food Bank additionally depends closely on volunteers. Organizations with members wanting to full neighborhood service hours are an ideal match for the TCFB. They have alternatives for volunteer work Monday via Saturday at their Cullen Street facility. 

The Food Bank additionally works to deter disgrace about families who want help as a result of there are some circumstances the place individuals have been reluctant to ask for help.  But Raeside stated, with right now’s economic system, rise in costs for fuel, meals, utilities and more, the Food Bank can help rescue needy households. 

“We ask people experiencing hunger to just raise their hand, please ask for help. We are there for them,” Stephen Raeside stated.

Anyone thinking about changing into a Hunger Hero by volunteering or donating to The Tarrant County Food Bank can visit their website.