Houston Food Bank

The Houston Food Bank's primary function is to provide extensive quantities of food to families and individuals who are experiencing hunger through relief organizations such as food pantries, soup kitchens and shelters. In addition, the Food Bank provides programs and services aimed at helping families achieve long-term stability including [https://www.houstonfoodbank.org/our-programs/nutrition-education/ nutrition education], [https://www.houstonfoodbank.org/our-programs/communitykitchen/ job training], [https://www.houstonfoodbank.org/our-programs/food-for-change/ health management], and help in securing [https://www.houstonfoodbank.org/our-programs/communityassistanceprogram/ state-funded assistance]. The Houston Food Bank services roughly 800,000 families in an average year.{{Cite web|last=Lloyd|first=Danica|date=2020-09-17|title=Houston Food Bank: COVID-19 pandemic amplifies already-high food insecurity rates across region|url=https://communityimpact.com/houston/cy-fair/coronavirus/2020/09/17/houston-food-bank-covid-19-pandemic-amplifies-already-high-food-insecurity-rates-across-region/|access-date=2020-09-30|website=impact|language=en}} Notably, since the Covid-19 pandemic reached the Houston area, the food bank's services expanded to offer mobile food distributions, drive thru pantries, food deliveries and drop offs, emergency food kits and virtual assistance to the community. Prior to the pandemic, approximately 1 in 5 children in Houston lived in food-insecure households; the latest estimates show that number now to be 1 in 4.{{Cite web|last=Lloyd|first=Danica|date=2020-09-17|title=Houston Food Bank: COVID-19 pandemic amplifies already-high food insecurity rates across region|url=https://communityimpact.com/houston/cy-fair/coronavirus/2020/09/17/houston-food-bank-covid-19-pandemic-amplifies-already-high-food-insecurity-rates-across-region/|access-date=2020-09-30|website=impact|language=en}} The Houston Food Bank's daily distribution increased from 400,000 pounds of food in 2019, to 1 million pounds in 2020.{{Cite web|last=Lloyd|first=Danica|date=2020-09-17|title=Houston Food Bank: COVID-19 pandemic amplifies already-high food insecurity rates across region|url=https://communityimpact.com/houston/cy-fair/coronavirus/2020/09/17/houston-food-bank-covid-19-pandemic-amplifies-already-high-food-insecurity-rates-across-region/|access-date=2020-09-30|website=impact|language=en}} Previously, the Houston Food Bank experienced an increase in food demands during the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey in August 2017. Following the natural disaster, the non-profit organization opened two additional warehouses with 240,00 square feet of space for onslaught donations, expanded the scope of its service area, and welcomed thousands of new volunteers.{{Cite web|date=2017-11-22|title=Houston Food Bank mounts epic Hurricane Harvey response|url=https://www.houstonchronicle.com/about/houston-gives/article/Houston-Food-Bank-mounts-epic-Hurricane-Harvey-12374476.php|access-date=2020-09-30|website=HoustonChronicle.com|language=en-US}} Most recently, the Houston Food Bank served as a voting site for the 2020 presidential election.{{Cite web|title=Harris Votes|url=https://www.harrisvotes.com/|access-date=2020-09-30|website=harrisvotes.com|language=en-us}} In February 2021, president Joseph Biden visited the Houston Food Bank after a polar vortex hit southeast Texas, leaving many Houstonians seeking temporary food assistance.{{Cite web|date=February 26, 2021|title=President Joe Biden, First Lady Jill Biden pitch in to help at Houston Food Bank|url=https://www.khou.com/article/news/local/joe-jill-biden-houston-food-bank/285-1dafa59a-b3e0-49bd-8e4e-9d9147c7ff8a|access-date=2021-09-26|website=khou.com|language=en-US}}

The Houston Food Bank first opened its doors on March 8, 1982, as a vision realized for compassionate individuals to provide hunger relief. It was founded by Bert Bandini. Their first home was a storefront in a north Houston shopping center donated by Joan and Stanford Alexander, who linked arms with founding forces based at Houston Metropolitan Ministries, now Interfaith Ministries for Greater Houston.{{Cite web|title=Honoring the Houston Food Bank on Its 15th Anniversary|url=https://www.congress.gov/congressional-record/1998/3/4/extensions-of-remarks-section/article/E286-4}} By the end of 1984, the Houston Food Bank became a member of Second Harvest Network, now Feeding America. The Albert and Ethel Herzstein Foundation{{Cite web|title=Albert and Ethel Herzstein Charitable Foundation|url=http://herzsteinfoundation.org/herzstein-heritage/}} donated funding to purchase a 73,000 square foot warehouse in 1988 on US 59 at Cavalcade. In 2007, the Food Bank signed an agreement to purchase the Sysco Distribution Center at 535 Portwall Street,{{Cite news|title=New Facility Increases the Space and Ranking of Food Bank|work=Houston Public Media|url=https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/2010/04/29/20511/new-facility-increases-the-space-and-ranking-of-food-bank/}} which now serves as the food bank's current headquarters. The large facility houses employee offices, an onsite conference center fitting upwards of 400 people,{{Cite web|title=The Houston Food Bank {{!}} Venues in Houston, TX 77029|url=https://www.visithoustontexas.com/listings/the-houston-food-bank/23504/|access-date=2020-09-30|website=Visit Houston|language=en-us|archive-date=2020-10-27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201027085257/https://www.visithoustontexas.com/listings/the-houston-food-bank/23504/|url-status=dead}} food separating stations and a food storage warehouse. As of 2025, the Houston Food Bank has been servicing the Houston community for 43 years.

{{Portal|Texas|Food}}

• List of food banks
• Great Raise Houston

{{Reflist}}

• [http://www.houstonfoodbank.org/ The Houston Food Bank official site]

Category:Organizations based in Houston

Category:Non-profit organizations based in Texas

Category:Food banks in Texas