Mrs. Baird’s gives big

The shelves at West Texas Food Bank have gotten a lot less bare thanks to a hefty donation from Mrs. Baird's.

As part of its Pass the Bread Program, a large-scale partnership with 25 food banks, the Fort Worth-based breadmaker donated 20,000 loaves to cover the West Texas Food Bank's three locations in Odessa, El Paso and Alpine.

Shane Sumrow, a Mrs. Baird's public relations representative, celebrated Odessa's first shipment Friday with food bank executive director Hyta Folsom.

"We're still giving back to our neighbors - the neighborhood's just gotten larger," Sumrow said before passing a ceremonial loaf to Folsom.

She said at a conservative retail price estimate of $1.89 a loaf, the donation represents a $37,800 gift to help the Basin's hungry - and, it's the largest bread donation the bank has ever received.

"This represents a significant monetary donation from Mrs. Baird's, and we appreciate that more than you know," Folsom told Sumrow.

The Mrs. Baird's Pass the Bread Program will give 500,000 loaves of bread to 25 food banks in five states, with 23 of them in Texas. Sumrow said Friday's stop in Odessa was the program's sixth so far, and the West Texas Food Bank covers the largest area of any food provider Mrs. Baird's will donate to - a whopping 45,000 square miles that covers 22 counties.

Folsom said it's been getting harder to fill the food bank's shelves in recent years, partly because food manufacturer donations are on the decline. Dollar stores and discount retailers are buying up surpluses that would have gone to food banks in the past, putting charities in direct competition for grocery staples.

The food bank relied solely on donations three years ago, Folsom said, but it's spending at least $60,000 a year on food shipments now.

"It's a real dilemma," she said.

Sumrow said food bank donations are especially important this time of year because school will let out for summer soon, and the many students who would normally qualify for free or reduced-cost lunches won't have that cushion.

"We just appreciate what people can do," Folsom said. "Any help we can get, we absolutely appreciate it."

 HOW TO HELP

>> Hyta Folsom, West Texas Food Bank executive director, said monetary donations help the food bank most.

>> Food donations are always appreciated, but since she's able to buy in bulk at a discount, donated dollars can really be stretched. 

TO DONATE

>> Visit: www.wtxfoodbank.org.

>> Call: 580-6333.

>> Stop by: 1008 E. Second St.