Join Us For A Conversation With El Pasos Legislative Delegation
Five members of El Pasos legislative delegation will join El Paso Matters CEO Robert Moore for a conversation about the upcoming session.
Carla, a mother of three, often comes twice a month to get food for three households: hers, her sisters and her mothers.
As she loaded up her carts with boxes of strawberries, drinks and more, her 1-year-old daughter held on tightly to an unopened container of strawberries. She stuck her tiny fingers through the plastic perforations and jammed them into a strawberry, then licked the strawberry flavor off her fingers.
Carla lost her job in late 2019, and then COVID-19 pandemic hit. Carla changed her grocery buying habits. But since food prices shot up, said she and her family have turned to food stamps and the food bank for help.
We dont buy brand names anymore, Carla said while loading up her SUV with food. We have fruits, too, instead of chips. But my teenagers want chips and sodas. I tell them we cant anymore, sorry. They eat like theres no tomorrow.
Carla receives benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP. But its not enough to feed her daughter and two teenage boys, she said.
The benefits are so minimal, you know, she said.
Officials with El Pasoans Fighting Hunger are hoping to secure enough volunteers to reopen the Senior Food FARMacy program.
Disclosure: El Paso Matters CEO Robert Moore is on the board of El Pasoans Fighting Hunger Food Bank.
How to Help: El Pasoans Fighting Hunger
The El Pasoans Fighting Hunger Food Bank Needs Your Help
EL PASO, Texas – Inflation is hurting everyone, its forcing families, even those with multiple incomes, to seek assistance. El Pasoans Fighting Hunger’s mission is to combat the hunger crisis in our region.
The food bank has seen an increase in demand due to the recent spike in the cost of food, and rent adding to the already higher prices due to inflation. Due to the demand, the food bank only has four days’ worth of food.
The Food Bank is the distribution center that serves to inspect, repack and distribute food to partner agencies. These partner agencies are food pantries, churches, soup kitchens, and shelters that feed the 1 in 4 adults and 1 in 3 children who need food in our area.
when you donate just one dollar, that equals seven meals to someone who is hungry. You can donate by mail, phone, and online. You can donate at elpasoansfightinghunger.org.
Proxy Report And Letter
On Sept. 2, a proxy analysis was submitted to HUD. Inside the report was information detailing the city’s unemployment rate, community demographics and locations where assistance from the food bank can be received. The report had to show the food bank used more than half of its grants to serve low to moderate income residents and families.
On Oct. 12, the city received a notification from the federal agency that the report did not meet federal requirements.
Upon further consultation with HUD’s Office of Block Grant Assistance, according to a letter sent to city officials, the department said the proxy report is “sufficient for HUD’s purposes.” The department said their initial guidance for the city was inconsistent with recent guidance that they were providing nationally.
“And so the federal guidelines talked about serving to unduplicated clients throughout the community and to a certain number of them, but at the end of the day, what’s really important here those demographics, and where the food bank was providing services throughout the community,” Westin said.
More:City of El Paso, El Pasoans Fighting Hunger food bank quiet on negotiations
During an Oct. 21 news conference, Nicole Ferrini, chief resilience officer and director of Community and Human Development for the city of El Paso, said the food bank hadn’t shown adequate documentation to meet federal standards required for receiving CARES Act funding.
Ferrini said there was no requirement to digitize anything.
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Hunger Heroes: A Vistas Inspiring Work In El Paso
At Together at the Table 2015, we highlighted a few of the many individuals working to end hunger in their communities. Learn more about each of these Hunger Heroes and their work in our latest blog series, and get ready to be inspired! This week, read about Perla Chaparros VISTA service at El Pasoans Fighting
Commodity Supplemental Food Program
EPFH started providing healthy food to 5,000 extremely low income senior citizens in our community on a monthly basis.
Through this Commodity Supplemental Food Program, senior citizens have the opportunity to have healthy foods and help maintain their health.
The seniors selected for this program generally earn $400 to $600 a month. Too often, these vulnerable seniors have to make difficult decisions between paying for rent, utilities, medicines and food.
Also Check: Where To Donate Perishable Food
El Paso Food Bank Hands Out Hundreds Of Meals Despite Limited Food Supply
The El Pasoans Fighting Hunger Food Bank saw long lines on Wednesday as families cope with high prices of food.
“There has been an increase in demand and an increase in people who have received our resources,” said Safia Valenzuela, a volunteer coordinator at the food bank
RECOMMENDED: El Pasoans Fighting Hunger in dire need as it operates with 4-day’s worth of supplies
Despite the food bank still operating with 4 days worth of supplies, it was able to serve more than one thousand people.
Valenzuela said they were able to hand out beans, turkeys, yams, watermelon, drinks, and many more items to those in need.
“Every day we try our best to provide food to our community as well as the other food pantries that we help out,” added Valenzuela.
While many families were able to buy their Thanksgiving meal this year, many who visited the food bank said it has been a little difficult for them.
Right now, everything is through the roof,” said Miguel.
Its a blessing because the food is very expensive right now,” added Maria Villalobos.
People tell KFOX14 they are grateful for the help.
I have a lot of things. I never imagined that they would give me a turkey,” said Villalobos.
Its going to help me and my family out a lot,” said Miguel.
to learn how to donate to the food bank.
Iheart Media’s Fall Fundraiser: Buy The Box
Give back to your community this year. “Buy the Box” Fundraiser is raising awareness and monetary donations for the El Pasoans Fighting Hunger. A way to encourage and incentivize monetary donations over physical donations to the Food Bank, “Buy the Box” is a nod to the tens of thousands of boxes of food EPFH provides to our city weekly. Instead of giving a can good, “Buy the Box”.
El Pasoans Fighting Hunger Food Bankbecause no one should go hungry
Give an online donation, or join us in feeding our community by becoming a monthly giver. For every $1 donated, we can provide 7 meals. For example, your $20 a month translates into 140 meals for children, elderly and others who are hungry.
EPFH serves El Paso, Hudspeth and Culberson Counties. Since the pandemic began, the food bank has provided more than 1 million in emergency food distributions. Distributions include healthy groceries including protein, dairy products, grains, fruits and vegetables.
Every dollar you donate can provide up to seven meals for families right here in the borderland.
Donate now and give back to our community this holiday season
Don’t Miss: Ohio Association Of Food Banks
Kelly Center For Hunger Relief
Be PowerFlu! Beat flu season with your Free Flu Shot at Kelly! Join us from 9am – 1pm October 26 or 27th or November 1st or 2nd.
Join us Saturday, October 22nd from 9 am – noon for our Halloween Health Fair! Enter raffles, take photos at our Halloween Photo Booth and have your kids compete in our costume contest – while picking up important health information and getting free health screenings!
Very friendly and helpful staff. They provide good quality food when you are in need.
Very nice people and lots of good food. They do a great service to the community. I don’t know what I would do without them
Lots of cheerful helpful volunteers. I wish I could volunteer but am unable.UPDATE Yesterday, a frustrated volunteer made me feel bad by throwing a melon into a box meant for me. It is probably an aberration, but I think it needs to be mentioned. Maybe they need more volunteers to lessen interactive pressures.
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Alex Hinojosa is an El Paso freelance journalist and a mass communications instructor at El Paso Community College.More by Alex Hinojosa
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El Paso Texas The Food Bank Is Experiencing An Extreme Shortage In Volunteers And Is Asking For El Pasos Help
El Pasoans fighting hunger food bank usually has around 80 volunteers throughout the week but is only working with ten right now.
According to Sofia Valenzuela, the volunteer coordinator at the El Pasoans fighting hunger food bank, they usually get high school to college aged kids volunteer but with school back in session they are seeing less.
Right now I have only two for the afternoon and tomorrow I have around 50 volunteers registered for the Morning, and two for the afternoon, said Valenzuela.
Not having enough volunteers is slowing down production and creating longer wait times for El Pasoans who are waiting in line to pick up food.
The food bank is hoping to get more volunteers soon once the heat subsides.
They are asking El Pasoans to help them out, even if you can only help for an hour, but you must be at least 16-years-old.
For every hour they donate they help us reach at least 50 families.
Sofia Valenzuela, Volunteer coordinator
You can sign up to volunteer at Volunteer
Apple App Store or the
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El Paso’s Food Bank Stretched Thin As Migrant Crisis Intensifies In El Paso
As hundreds of migrants continue to cross into El Paso every day, the El Pasoans Fighting Hunger food bank is doing everything it can, with the little they have, to help provide relief.
The food bank has been on the streets and in shelters helping migrants, despite their scarce resources.
The food bank is under a great deal of stress right now. We’re down at the bus stations, providing food and water for our migrants that are now currently in El Paso. As you can see, we’ve got quite a long line. And when we run out, we’ll be heading back to the food bank and getting more supplies, Susan Goodell, El Pasoans Fighting Hunger Food Bank CEO said. We are receiving quite a lot of national support in the form of blankets, hygiene products, cots, that sort of thing, which we are providing for local shelters.
For the last several months KFOX14 has reported that the nonprofit has struggled with the amount of food they have to feed the community. But despite their limited food supply, they are doing everything they can to lend a helping hand to migrants in need.
El Paso Mayor Oscar Leeser has made clear that the people who are on the streets have chosen to be there, and that they have been offered shelter.
Leeser declared a state of emergency on Saturday, which he said will help bring in additional support to feed and house the migrants coming into our area.
Also Check: Food Bank In Santa Barbara
National School Lunch Program
EPFH proudly obtained the Texas Department of Agricultures highly competitive contract to manage the National School Lunch and BreakfastProgram . Through this program, EPFH services 185,000 low-income children across 182 schools in seven West Texas counties, including El Paso, Culberson, Hudspeth, Brewster, Jeff Davis, Reeves and Presidio Counties.
With the volume of food reaching schools in West Texas dropping an unprecedented 50% over the past two years, and child food insecurity on the rise, this partnership between EPHF and the Texas Department of Agriculture could not be more urgent.
Feeding Americas 2019 Map the Meal Gap indicates food insecurity nationally for children was 14.6 %. The seven West Texas counties included in the Free Breakfast Free Lunch Program have distressing rates of childhood food insecurity averaging 24.8%, with Culberson and Presidio Counties as high as 34.6% & 34.7% respectively more than double the national average pre-pandemic.
Food Bank Locations El Paso
There are several locations around El Paso where people can get food relief.»
What is a food bank?
A food bank is at the top of the distribution chain of food storage and distribution. They collect the food and then distribute it to various food pantry locations in El Paso whereby they in turn distribute the food to individuals in need. Food banks use pantries and other food relief charities to distribute for them and usually do not themselves give out food directly to people struggling with hunger.
U.S. food banks are all different, ranging from small operations to very large facilities that store and distribute millions of pounds of food each year. In El Paso, there is one primary food bank, El Pasoans Fighting Hunger , and it is a member of Feeding America, the nation’s largest hunger relief network. EPFH is the distribution center for over 132 pantries throughout the borderland southwest, including churches, schools and shelters. They also work along with other hunger initiatives that assists in SNAP. Food banks rely on donors and volunteers to carry out their day-to-day operations.
Food Bank Locations by West, Central and Northeast:
Other Food Bank Locations:
Map of Food Pantry Locations
Questions & Answers About Visiting a Food Pantry
Making the decision to visit a food pantry can be a tough one. Many people who are in need of food relief do not seek the assistance they need because of fear, embarrassment or pride. Here are some myths and facts about pantries.
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El Pasoans Fighting Hunger Food Bank Seeing Extremely Long Lines
EL PASO, Texas — El Pasoans Fighting Hunger food bank saw long lines the day before Thanksgiving.
People waited to pick up some Thanksgiving meal essentials including fruits and vegetables. They also gave away some candy to the kids waiting in line with their parents.
Staff from the Food bank told ABC-7 that they are usually busy but today they saw more people than expected. They attribute the long lines to rising food costs.
“Due to the impact of inflation and the food shortage we have noticed an increase in the population and the number of people we’ve been receiving here,” said volunteer coordinator Sofia Valenzuela.
People started lining up even before the food bank opened. Currently the food bank has enough food for four days of distribution.
The food bank will be closed on Thanksgiving but will reopen on Friday.
For more information you can visit their website or call 915-298-0353.
Distributing Food Where Its Needed Most
With the help of farmers, wholesalers, restaurants, community members, and others, we source the food for over 45 million meals each year. And thanks to our hundreds of partners in the community, were able to get that food to the individuals and families who need it most.
450+ Food Assistance Partners
Also Check: Can You Donate Formula To Food Banks
El Paso Food Bank Struggles To Accommodate Surge In Migrants As Fate Of Title 42 Uncertain
An El Paso food bank says it is struggling to accommodate a surge of migrants who have overwhelmed city officials in recent days.
Susan Goodell, CEO of El Pasoans Fighting Hunger Food Bank, told Fox News the organization is down to about five days worth of food for the general community.
“We are having to bring in specialized supplies for the migrants needs. This includes read-to-eat food, and were making food ourselves such as sandwiches in our warehouse,” Goodell said. “We are constantly in need of volunteers to help us make those sandwiches because were not only supplying them to migrants on the streets but were also supplying them to all of the major shelters.”
Goodell noted that a “relatively small” amount of food 10 to 15 tractor trailer loads is going to directly to migrants.
Fox News witnessed around 200 migrants sitting with blankets on a street near a Greyhound bus stop. Food bank volunteers said many of the migrants will sleep on the street overnight until they can get into a shelter or are sent elsewhere.
The temperature forecast for El Paso is 32 degrees, and many of the migrants will use their blankets to make make-shift tents.
The scene played out as suspense builds over the fate of Title 42, a pandemic-era health policy that has been used to deter migrants more than 2.5 million times.
The policy was set to expire on Wednesday, but the U.S. Supreme Court temporarily blocked an order that would have lifted it.
Mobile Client Choice Pantries
EPFH uses its refrigerated trucks in collaboration with partner agencies to distribute nutritious food to a minimum of 100 families per site who live in under served or unserved neighborhoods.
Unlike most hunger relief programs where individuals are handed a pre-packed box of food, client choice allows individuals the opportunity to shop for food to be used in their homes.
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El Pasoans Fighting Hunger Food Bank
- ARE YOU STRUGGLING TO PUT FOOD ON YOUR TABLE?WE CAN HELP! ARE YOU STRUGGLING TO PUT FOOD ON YOUR TABLE?WE CAN HELP! Find a pantry or distribution in your neighborhood.Click below for a list of Partner Agencies.
- Are you unable to pick up food? Home Delivery EL PASOANS FIGHTING HUNGER FOOD BANK CONTINUES OPERATION TO ENSURE VULNERABLE CITIZENS GET THE FOOD AND ASSISTANCE THEY NEED!