The Houston Food Bank

Food distribution - Food distribution is Houston Food Bank's core function. Food, including fresh produce and other select products, are distributed to hunger-relief agencies and other community service organizations including Food pantries, soup kitchens, schools, and multi-service centers. These entities then provide direct service to more than 1 million food-insecure individuals each year. The Houston Food Bank distributes The most Food in The feeding america network of Food banks.

Community assistance program - community assistance program Houston Food Bank's community assistance program (cap), educates The community about available social services and state-funded programs. Through certified community resource navigators, cap provides application and technical assistance for The following benefits: snap (supplemental nutrition assistance program), medicaid, tanf (temporary assistance for needy families), and chip (children's health insurance program). The Houston Food Bank can assist in submitting those applications electronically to The state. Cap also offers The referral partner program to assist with additional resources outside of state benefits, including rent and utility assistance, and connections to local pantries and Food distributions. Services are available in english, spanish, and vietnamese. In fy23 18,309,097 meals were accessed through cap assistance. Nutrition education The Houston Food Bank offers free nutrition education programming in english and spanish to address Food insecurity, to promote good nutrition habits for better health, and to reduce risk of diseases such as diabetes. 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 registered dieticians and nutritionists. These classes revolve around healthy eating tips based on The usda myplate and dietary guidelines for americans. Each class includes The creation of a recipe highlighting The material of The class. Last year, 523 classes were provided by hfb's nutrition education program; 6,765 individuals and 395 partners participated. Classes are offered virtually and in-person to hfb partners, community organizations, and schools. Senior box The senior box program also known as The commodity supplemental Food program (csfp) is a federally-funded national Food distribution effort from 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 approximately $50) each month, which helps stretch their available grocery dollars. The senior box program is currently serving over 10,069 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, 11.0 million meals were provided to children through one of hfbs child hunger-relief programs.

Other program services:

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 that provide workforce

Programs, higher education institutions,

And health partners, to help individuals

Improve their quality of life through

Economic, higher ed, and health-related

Programs that encourage family financial

Stability or help participants manage

Their healthcare needs. The Food Bank's

Role is to provide Food resources to

Support neighbors participating in The

Various economic, higher education, and

Health opportunity programming. This

Support comes in The form of Food

Scholarships or Food prescriptions

(Food rx). Estimated annual value of

Food scholarships/food rx clients:

$2,000/yr with 30 lbs of produce

Provided bi-weekly and other nutritious

Food. In addition, neighbors are

Connected to nutrition education and our

Community assistance program (cap)to

Assist them with state service

Application assistance.

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 out of their

Own pockets so their students have a

More productive learning experience.

The teachers and program provides The

Supplies kids need to succeed. Last

Year, this program served 7,882

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.