The Houston Food Bank

Food distribution - Food distribution is The Houston Food banks core function. Food and other select products are distributed to hunger-relief agencies that then provide direct service to more than 1 million low-income individuals each year. During this year, we had a significant response to The covid-19 pandemic. We provided 159 million nutritious meals, including over 81 million pounds of produce. The value of The total distributed was over $224 million in donated and purchased Food. The Houston Food Bank has The highest level of Food distribution in The feeding america network of Food banks.

Client assistance program - client assistance program Houston Food banks community assistance program (cap) is focused on raising awareness in The service area of available social services and provides application and technical assistance for state-funded social and health services., including snap (Food stamps), wic, medicaid, children?s medicaid and others. Services are available inenglish, spanish, and vietnamese. In fy20 16 million meals were accessed through cap assistance. Nutrition ed classes in nutrition, Food safety, meal preparation, and budgeting are taught in collaboration with Food Bank partner agencies by Houston Food Bank's team of dieticians and nutritionists. Last year, 639 classes were provided by hfbs nutrition education program; 7,080 individuals participated. Senior box The senior box program manages The commodity supplemental Food program (csfp) - a federally-funded national Food distribution effort from The united states departmentof agriculture (usda) that is designed to improve The health and nutrition of income-eligible seniors (60+). Through this program seniors receive a box of non-perishable Food (valued at $50) each month, which helps stretch their available grocery dollars. The senior box program is currently serving over 11,000 seniors each month. The united states department of agriculture (usda) that is designed to improve The health and nutrition of income-eligible seniors (60+). Through this program seniors receive a box of non-perishable Food (valued at $50) each month, which helps stretch their available grocery dollars. The senior box program is currently serving over 11,000 seniors each month.

Child hunger initiatives - approximately 60% of children in The Houston area rely on free and reduced lunch during The school year. Proper nutrition is vital to The growth and development of children. Children without proper nutrition have difficulties concentrating in school, experience tardiness, and are more prone to chronic illness that can hinder their growth and advancement. The Houston Food Bank operates five programs that equip children and their families with tools they need to be successful: backpack buddy, kids cafe, school market, teachers aid, and nutrition education. Last year, 8.0 million meals were provided to children through one of hfbs child hunger-relief programs.

Other program services-caf-catering, outreach

Food for change:

Food for change is an innovative strategy that

Goes beyond emergency Food assistance to address

The root causes of hunger. This program uses

Food as a catalyst, in partnership with social

Service programs and health partners, to help

Individuals improve their quality of life

Through economic and health-related programs

That encourage family financial stability or

Help participants manage their healthcare

Needs. The Food Bank's role is provide Food

Resources to support clients participating in

The various economic and health opportunity

Programming - this support comes in The form of

Food scholarships or Food prescriptions (Food

Rx). Estimated annual value Food

Scholarship/food rx clients: $2,000/yr.

Teachers aid:

Many children can't afford The most basic school

Supplies. Without The proper tools to do The work

Children are challenged to achieve academic

Success. Many compassionate teachers pay for

School supplies from their own pockets so their

Students have a more productive learning

Experience. The teachers aid program provides The

Supplies kids need to succeed. Last year, this

Program served 10,853 teachers.

Community kitchen:

Workforce development program that provides

Participants with paid training for living-wage

Jobs in culinary services. It helps individuals

Who are struggling with unemployment and poverty

Develop The skills needed to achieve financial

Stability and includes hands-on technical and

Life skills, financial literacy, and job

Readiness. Case management services are being

Added to help mitigate barriers that can prevent

Participants from completing training.