It’s hard for most of us to imagine what being truly hungry is. We have plenty of food in our refrigerator and pantry, and we have the luxury of going out to restaurants on the days we don’t.  We can now even have our favorite foods delivered to us. We often start planning our next meal before we have even finished the one we’re eating.

So when we hear statements like “there is a significant challenge of food insecurity in America” or “a high proportion of our population is struggling to access sufficient food”, it is hard for many of us to relate.  It seems like a problem that is “out there” but one that other groups and the government are helping with, so why do we need to worry about it?

But if you take a minute to understand food insecurity and hunger in the United States, the statistics are shocking.

Food Insecurity and Hunger Statistics

Hunger is the feeling someone has when they don’t have food.  On the other hand, food insecurity is the consistent lack of food to have a healthy life.  Unfortunately, it is not only the unemployed who do not have steady access to food. Around 1 in 10 working adults in America experience food insecurity. 

In Texas, 1 in 8, or nearly 4 million of our fellow Texans experience food insecurity.  Children, seniors, and people of color are some of the hardest hit.

“20%, or 1 in 5 Texas children experiences hunger”

FeedingTexas.Org

Lack of access to nutritious food can lead to severe consequences for physical and mental health, hindering educational attainment and economic opportunities. Food banks play a vital role in addressing this issue by providing essential and healthy food supplies to those in need.

The Role of Food Banks

Food banks serve as crucial intermediaries between surplus food and those experiencing hunger. They collect donations from various sources, such as individuals, businesses, and government agencies.  Then, they redistribute these resources to local food pantries in the community, free of charge. 

Their operations rely heavily on volunteers who sort, pack, and distribute the donated food items efficiently.  In fact, 51% of all food programs rely entirely on volunteers!

What does a volunteer at the food bank do?

Volunteering at a food bank allows individuals to be directly involved in helping their community.  Food banks offer many different fun and unique ways to help, and are especially great for families that want to volunteer together!  Some of the volunteer opportunities as a food bank volunteer are:

• Sort and pack food: You can keep the shelves stocked by assembling food boxes for distribution.
• Assist at mobile pantries & drive-thru pantries: Help your neighbors feed their families.
• Tend the garden: Volunteers help tend the food bank’s community garden.
• Volunteer from home: Help fundraise or spread awareness.
• Participate in events they host that raise money:  The food banks’ immense purchasing power allows them to acquire more with our donated dollars than what we could individually purchase.

Find your local food bank to see what programs they specifically offer.

Food Banks in the North Texas Area

North Texas has 2 major food banks that collectively cover 26 counties!  Donating your time, food, and money to them makes a huge impact that has an exponential effect in the communities they serve. 

1. North Texas Food Bank (NTFB) is in Plano, TX and serves Dallas and 12 surrounding counties. They offer an array of volunteering opportunities and allow children 12 years and older to volunteer with an adult. 
2. Tarrant Area Food Bank (TAFB) is in Fort Worth, TX and serves Tarrant and 12 surrounding counties.  Some of their volunteer opportunities allow children as young as 8 years old to participate with an adult. 

Other Ways to Get Involved at the Food Bank

Both food banks offer a multitude of ways to get involved in various programs, like TAFB’s emerging leaders, NTFB’s young professionals council,  and fun social and educational events throughout the year. 

They also offer opportunities for cultural groups to get involved. For example, NTFB has partnerships with the Hispanic/Latin American Community called SinHambre and the Chinese American Diaspora called Nihao.

August is HungerMitao Month

Both NTFB and TAFB have a partnership with the Indian American community called HungerMitao, a volunteer-driven initiative designed to unify this community to #GiveWhereYouLive. 

In the month of August, to commemorate India’s independence, HungerMitao has a Food & Funds-For-Food Drive where the Indian American community comes together to donate peanut/nut butter and funds for NTFB and funds for TAFB. 

Charities2Love is honored to partner this August with HungerMitao to volunteer, spread awareness and donate for this effort!

You can make a difference

Volunteering at a food bank can make a significant difference in the lives of individuals and communities struggling with hunger and food insecurity. Your simple act can have a profound impact. Let’s all do what we can to nourish our neighbors in need.