WC Texas News

When COVID-19 cases appeared in Abilene in mid-March, the Food Bank of West Central Texas was low on inventory – but generous donations saw them through.

Now they have racks filled with beans and grains along with many crates filled with other goods, food bank CEO Ronnie Kidd told KRBC.

Social distancing required shifting the food bank’s normal operations. They pack premade boxes to meet the rising demand and to help local food pantries with the essentials the communities need.

“The boxes are about 20 to 22 pounds of shelf stable food,” Kidd said. "Vegetables, proteins, some pasta and it should last several days for a family of four."

The food bank distributed 20 percent more food than normal in three weeks.

“We’ve probably built close to a thousand so far, and we’re continuing to make them,” he told KRBC. 

Warehouse manager Jason Keefer said they had about 638 boxes stacked in just one day.  

“We have 80 that are going to the town of Roscoe today, and then I have fellas that are making these every day,” Keefer told KRBC. “So, we’re making anywhere between 70 and 80 boxes a day.”

Demand will only increase, Kidd said. But with continued donations he anticipates meeting the needs.

The food bank said it provides 50 meals for every $10 donation. The nonprofit 501(C)3 community service organization collects donated food to distribute to other nonprofit agencies that serve the Big Country.

Approximately 50,000 people live in poverty in the food bank’s 13-county service area. Clients include seniors living on fixed incomes, working-poor families with children and people dealing with the aftermath of disasters.

Tens of thousands of other working families in the Big Country live just above poverty levels and also need emergency food.

More than 9,000 families received emergency food monthly from pantries, according to the food bank. Other families eat meals at soup kitchens.

Donations to the Food Bank of West Central Texas can be made online. Food donations are managed through the food bank’s online contact form. And volunteers can offer their services to the organization. In 2019 volunteers provided 10,000 hours of service to the food bank.