The Houston Food Bank founded in 1982, is a private non- profit organization. A member of feeding America; the nations food bank network, feeds approximately 137,000 people each week.
The HFB partners with 400 different hunger relief agencies in 18 southeast Texas counties to distribute food.
These agencies are:
- church food pantries
- homeless shelters
- safe havens for the battered and abused
- nutrition sites for children and the elderly
Aside from distributing food to these agencies, the HFB has two additional food assistance program to help children.
These are:
- The Backpack Buddy Club
- Kids Cafe
How does the Backpack Buddy Club food program work?
- Children who rely on free or reduced-price lunches during the school year take “child-friendly” food on Friday to have for the weekend. (The schools call the HFB to have the program intergrated)
-These foods are non-perishable-vitamin-fortified that include things such as:
- canned chicken or tuna
- yogurt cereal bars
- 100% fruit juice
- canned pasta meals
To look at the full list of foods and how the Backpack Buddy Club program works, click here
In fiscal year ’07-’08, the program served 7,273 children and distributed 20,070 food sacks.
sourse: Backpack Buddy Club Fact Sheet
How does Kids Cafe work?
Kids Cafe is an after-school program that provides children with meals and snacks.
In addition to receiving meals, kid also receive food safety lessons through a collaboration of Houston’s area chefs, dietitians and volunteers.
- It was first launched in Houston in 2000
- Each month it provides meals to as many as 1,400 kids
- The program also functions in the summer where the numbers of kids attending the program doubles
Nationally it was launched in 1993 by Feeding America. Today there are 1,200 Kids Cafes operating in the Unites States.
For more information on how and where Kids Cafe operate, click here
Source: Kids Cafe Fact Sheet
Courtesy: Houston Food Bank
Courtesy: Houston Food Bank
