Tag Archives: EPFH food bank

Thursday morning, the El Pasoans Fighting Hunger (EPFH) Food Bank, in partnership with the Paul L. Foster Family Foundation, Woody and Gayle Hunt Family Foundation, and MountainStar Sports Group Foundation, announced they had reached their matching grant goal of raising $1 million to support families grappling with food insecurity and the economic impacts of COVID-19.

“The Food Bank is grateful to everyone in El Paso who has given to support their friends, neighbors, and family members during this crisis, and especially to the community leaders that have spearheaded our fundraising efforts,” said Stuart Schwartz, EPFH Food Bank Board Chair.

“The incredibly generous $1 million matching grant from the Paul L. Foster Family Foundation, the Woody and Gayle Hunt Family Foundation, and MountainStar Sports Group Foundation helped us raise an additional $1 million. And now Community en Acción’s matching challenge is allowing us to fulfill our mission of alleviating food insecurity, especially in the middle of a pandemic. Their generosity demonstrates the kind of leadership and solidarity that makes El Paso a great place to live.  We are thankful to the community for meeting the first matching grant and ask for your support in the new challenge.”

To continue the momentum, Community en Acción (CEA)  announced a $100,000 donation to the Food Bank and, coupled with two other anonymous donations, issued a new $600,000 fundraising challenge to the community to continue donating to El Pasoans Fighting Hunger.

Since the pandemic began, EPFH Food Bank has risen to meet the challenges by  distributing up to 11,000 emergency food boxes daily through its 5 mega-distribution locations and mobile pantries in El Paso, Culberson and Hudspeth Counties.

In fact, the Food Bank spent $1.67 million in just the first month of its COVID-19 response, which accounted for more than half of its pre-COVID-19 annual budget. Seeing the need for additional funds, EPFH sought the help of the community, and local business and community leaders answered the call.

For more information on how to contribute to the El Pasoans Fighting Hunger Food Bank, click here or call (915) 298-0353.

Our very own Andres ‘Ace’ Acosta was at the news conference, and we bring you his view of the event via this gallery.

Starting Friday, May 1st, El Pasoans Fighting Hunger Food Bank will relocate its Sunland Park Mall mega pantry drive-thru distribution site in West El Paso to Vinton’s Bill Childress Elementary School.

The school, located at 7700 Cap Carter Road in Vinton, was selected as a replacement location as the City of El Paso is lifting the “stay home, work safe” order as of Friday, in compliance with Gov. Greg Abbott’s plan to reopen the state of Texas.

Residents of West El Paso, who are seeking food assistance, can go to Bill Childress Elementary School and pick up an emergency food box. Distribution will be Mondays and Fridays from 10am to 2pm.

Volunteers and food bank personnel from the Sunland Park location will transition to the Childress location.

The current mega pantry drive-thru distribution locations are:

• East: El Pasoans Fighting Hunger Food Bank – 9541 Plaza Circle – Mon-Fri. | 9AM-3PM

• West – Vinton, TX: Bill Childress Elementary School – 7700 Cap Carter Road – Mon & Fri. from 10AM-2PM

• West: Abundant Living Faith Center West – 7100 N. Desert Blvd. – Tues., Wed, Thurs. | 10AM-2PM

• Central: Kelly Center for Hunger Relief – 915 N. Florence – Tues.-Fri. | 10AM-2PM | Sat. | 9AM-12PM

• Northeast: Katie’s Pantry – 4801 Sun Valley – Mon-Fri. | 10AM-2PM

“Since the beginning of the COVID-19 crisis in March, the food bank has faced a soaring demand and are serving more families and individuals struggling with hunger,” EPFH officials shared.

“So far, the EP Fighting Hunger has given out more than 125,000+ emergency food boxes to over 50,000+ families and individuals at 5 major distribution sites and several mobile sites per week.”

EPFH is working to ensure that individuals impacted by COVID-19 and related disruptions continue to have the nutritious food they need.

The food bank’s crisis team is partnered with Feeding America, the network of 200 food banks, and local partners to ensure the safest handling of food and distributions to our communities.

To donate to El Pasoans Fight Hunger Food Bank, click here.

 

We here at the Herald Post strongly support EPFH Food Bank and encourage all our readers to reach out and donate time or money (or both) as we make our way through the COVID-19 emergency together.

***

These past two weeks have been intense at the food bank.

Due to the evolving COVID-19 (Coronavirus) situation, we’ve had to modify our distribution model from one that relies on hundreds of soup kitchens, shelters, pantries, schools, emergency shelters and others throughout the region and focus on a different type of model that allows for drive-through distribution.

This model allows us to optimize distribution and minimize face-to-face interactions.

Since implementing the change, cars have been lining up and down the street at the food bank to pick up emergency food boxes. As vehicles approach our distribution point, volunteers place a box of food, along with frozen and fresh product, into their trunk and the vehicle drives away often smiling and waving to our dedicated staff and volunteers.

To meet the immediate need, we partnered with 4 local food pantries to strategically set-up  mega drive-through locations  around El Paso. That way we ensure our most vulnerable neighbors have access to the nutritious food they need during this difficult time.

We are focusing our efforts on the most vulnerable. Particularly our elderly, who are at the highest risk of COVID-19 complications. With schools closed, thousands of children are without breakfast and lunch. Many people are experiencing economic hardships due to employment losses or reductions.

The food bank is prepared to meet the needs of these families and individuals who are at greatest risk of hunger, many of whom may be coming to seek food for the first time.

We are here, we have the food supply, and we’re bringing additional food supply’s to our community to meet the need!

I can’t thank our staff, volunteers, donors and community partners enough for their dedication and hard work during this process! You are the backbone of our operation, allowing us to provide food to everyone who may be feeling frightened and alone.

We are all experiencing this together and together we will get through this.

Be safe and be assured that the food bank will stand strong for this community during these uncertain times.

Susan Goodell, CEO – El Pasoans Fighting Hunger Food Bank

~~~ How to help~~~

1. Monetary donations do the most immediate good.  For every $1 donated, EPFH can provide 7 meals.  Make an online donation here or donate by texting FeedingElPaso to 243725

2. Community members who are able to volunteer can sign up here.  We are providing a letter of exemption that you can print out and have available before coming to volunteer at the food bank during the city-wide mandate to stay home. This will allow you peace of mind as you travel to and from our warehouse to assist us in packaging emergency food boxes.

For questions, contact Volunteer Coordinator, Miranda Chapman, at 915-247-0257 or by email at volunteer@epfhfb.org.

For more information, visit their Facebook or webpage.