The economy is still slamming people in the pocketbook in the West Texas Food Bank’s service area and the nonprofit is doing everything it can to help.
They have a challenge match going with the Abell-Hanger Foundation where for every dollar that is given up to $100,000 Abell-Hanger will match that, Food Bank Executive Director Libby Campbell said.
Campbell said this is really great, especially with everything they are seeing right now.
“We just finished our fiscal year at the end of September and we did a little bit over 14 million pounds to the 19 counties that we serve. A lot of what we’re really seeing right now with the neighbors in our lines is that inflation is still really hitting our community hard, especially our elderly population and single parents or guardians with kiddos,” Campbell said.
The costs of everything have increased, she noted — utilities, groceries, daycare and after-school activities.
Even though in West Texas, pay is pretty generous, Campbell said it hasn’t kept up.
“We’re seeing more and more people in our lines and … most of them have jobs, so they don’t qualify for those programs of public assistance when you think about SNAP or WIC or those kinds of things because they are working. Those programs really aren’t designed for the you know the kind of that working-class that is struggling. We’ve had to do more and fill in a gap for that part of our community that’s truly needing resources. So to have a gift from Abell-Hanger, that $100,000 match, for us to be able to turn that into $200,000 is a huge thing for us to be able to purchase more food, to keep fuel in our trucks, to keep everything moving for us to reach everyone in our 19 counties that needs assistance,” she added.
With need being up, volunteers are really important to the West Texas Food Bank workforce.
“We have over 31 senior sites that we’re distributing senior boxes to with the help of USDA. And of course Conoco did a special gift for us to be able to reach more seniors who are on our waitlist for that program. But we have to build those specialty boxes,” Campbell said.
On average, they are doing about 2,200 to 2,600 seniors a month on that program through the 19 counties they serve through the 31 distribution sites.
“Our Food2Kids backpack program is going strong as always, I think we’re doing about 3,200 to 3,300 kiddos a weekend through the 19 counties in which we serve for that backpack program,” Campbell said.
School pantries are seeing more families than ever and they need help sorting and processing those commodities that go to our school pantries for those families.
“Our two distributions that we do here at the West Texas Food Bank, whether it be at the Odessa campus one day and the Midland campus the next day, we’re still seeing really high numbers in those lines. Most of those families who come in are new families who come to us first and then we connect them with one of our 100-plus partner agencies in the 19 counties so they can get more regular assistance than just us once a month,” she said.
The Food Bank is still conducting tons of mobile distributions throughout the rural communities.
“We’re having to bring boxes and things like that and stew bags and fresh produce out to those distributions that we’re doing throughout the 19 counties. For us to have a volunteer workforce to make sure that our commodities are ready to go, boxed up, sorted, process cleaned, is really important for us to be able to do our work every day,” Campbell said.
She expressed thanks to Collin Sewell, president of The Sewell Family of Companies for the Big Serve on a recent Sunday at the Odessa and Midland campuses.
“We had a bunch of his employees come out and help sack Food2Kids and sort and process, salvage and reclamation and help get us ready to hit the road this week (of Dec. 4) strong,” Campbell said.
She added that they always want to thank companies and corporations participate in events like that to help the Food Bank get ahead of what it needs to do daily.
Campbell said every year Sewell picks nonprofits to send volunteers out to in order to give back to the communities they operate in.
“We always want to thank Collin for always keeping the West Texas Food Bank on his list of places that he sends his staff out to help us do our work. I’m sure other nonprofits feel the same way when we see the Big Serve come up and you get the call that they’re ready to come help you in December. It’s always a great time. Of course you know his staff is just so incredible,” she said.
People are also starting to embrace food drives again.
“During COVID, it was kind of hard for us to do food drives. It was a lot of stress on the staff, so we just asked for monetary donations. But we’ve had so many great groups step forward and do some really amazing food drives so far already this season and we are encouraging other groups to continue to keep doing food drives, even if it’s only for canned soup, or you just want to do specialty items,” Campbell said.
Lots of different groups have had fun activities with their food drive like a chili tasting cookout.
“We’re about to do the Green Tree Golf Cart Parade and everybody has to bring $20 worth of food items, or do a donation to the food bank to enter for first, second or third place prize,” she said.
“We’re about to do something with some of the radio stations and do a really big food drive later on this week called MASH, which will be going on at KICKS-FM (103.3). We’re excited about doing that,” Campbell said.
She’s been seeing excitement in the community about giving back which speaks to this time of year when everyone is grateful for family, friends and food on the table.
The food drives help the rural communities that don’t have the same resources available in Odessa and Midland.
“It’s amazing to see your community rally behind those in need and truly think of creative and innovative ways to help support our work,” Campbell said.
For the people in more remote areas, the Food Bank tries to serve people with dignity and build trust and relationships with neighbors and partner agencies.
“It means a lot to us. We get to see kiddos that are really happy about getting apples. It makes us realize that we’re doing good things out there and we’re doing good things because the community is supporting us …,” Campbell said.
Last fiscal year, the Food Bank had more than 7,000 volunteers which saves them about $300,000 in payroll.
“I think it’s also really great for our volunteers, their families and the corporations, companies, businesses that bring their staffs out because it’s a great morale builder. It’s team building. They’re getting to give back in the communities in which they operate. There’s lots of benefits to our volunteer program,” Campbell said.
University of Texas Permian Basin, Odessa College athletics and Sul Ross State University in Alpine volunteer regularly for the Food Bank.
Midland College also did a huge distribution in their parking lot with students helping give out food to people in Midland.
“Odessa College is, again, a huge supporter of our work. They have a great school pantry on campus, and they are constantly getting kids involved, kids fed, making sure our kids have the ability to stay in school and get their education. I think that’s important, so they don’t have to drop out and go get jobs because they can’t eat. There are resources there on those campuses,” Campbell said.
The Food Bank has a presence on Facebook, X (Twitter), TikTok, Instagram and on its website.
