The West Texas Food Bank, which helps feed residents in 19 counties, is seeing an explosion in the number of people seeking help, higher even than during COVID-19, said Chief Executive Officer Libby Campbell.
The food bank is on track to distribute 15.6 million pounds of food this year, compared to the 13.2 million pounds it distributed last year, Campbell said. Prior to the pandemic, the food bank would serve 6.8 million pounds a year.
In Odessa alone, the food bank is helping 500-600 families per week, said Autumn Bohannan, content marketing manager.
“Most of the people we’re seeing having jobs and over 25% of them have never needed assistance before,” Campbell said. However, she also said they’re seeing an increase in the number of people who are homeless or living inside their vehicles.
Last week, 365 sought assistance during the American Legion distribution when the typical number was around 80, she said. They’re also seeing an increased need when it comes to the bank’s Food 2 Kids programs and senior programs.
She attributes roughly 85% of the increase to inflation.
During the pandemic, the USDA helped with commodities, but it’s no longer doing so, Campbell said.
As a result, the food bank hopes people will come through for them with monetary and food donations. She’d also love to see more businesses and churches organize food drives. They also need volunteers to help on distribution food lines, packing boxes, separating donations.
Campbell said she was pleased to announce that during the holiday season Abell-Hanger Foundation will match everyone’s donation dollar up to $100,000.
The food bank has 100 non-profit agencies, most of which are churches and small food pantries that are located in low-income areas.
One of those partners is St. James Missionary Baptist Church.
Chris Walker, a member of St. James and president of the Black Chamber of Commerce-Permian Basin, announced this week they’ll be hosting a holiday feed for the second year in a row due to the increased need.
On Dec. 9, the church will host its monthly food box giveaway, but on Dec. 16, church members and chamber members will provide a hot take-away-meal, toys, clothing and jackets for those in need, Walker said.
“We have families that are still struggling…our numbers have constantly increased and that’s not good. We’ve noticed in the last three months our numbers have increased,” Walker said of the church’s box program.
When the church began its program, members were handing out 75 boxes a month.
“This past Friday we ran out at 125 boxes. We had to turn some vehicles away which we really hated,” Walker said.
He, too, attributes the increase to inflation.
“It’s unreal, man. I’m thinking to myself, I’m a retired oil field person and things are pretty expensive even for myself and you take someone that’s on a fixed income and their salaries haven’t been adjusted for inflation. They’re getting their same check, but the price on food and all of the groceries are still going up,” Walker said. “We’ve had some people basically tell us at our food distributions that if it weren’t for these organizations that hand out food, they don’t know how they’d eat at the end of the month.”
During last year’s holiday event Campbell said the chamber and church fed 220 families. He remembers one gentleman arriving in a T-shirt and shorts despite freezing temperatures.
“He didn’t have anything, but he was able to find pants, a jacket and some shirts and he was able to wear them away,” Walker said. “It was really touching that we were able to help him out and we were just glad he wasn’t too proud to not accept.”
As for this year, Campbell suspects they’ll be seeing more families.
“I would love to see our numbers decrease because that means we’re doing better, but if we have to, I would love to reach at least 250 families,” he said.
Santa made an appearance last year and they suspect he’ll find time in his schedule to come again this year, Walker said.
Because the hot meal giveaway will be catered, Walker said the church and chamber would be grateful for monetary donations. They’re also looking for clothing, jacket and toy donations.
