Monthly Report

April, 2010

South Texas Food Bank  SNAP outreach helps economy

 By SALO OTERO

STFB director of development

The South Texas Food Bank continues to boost  Laredo’s economy through its

Supplement Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly food stamps.

 An outreach program to sign up families for SNAP was started some four

years ago by the South Texas Food Bank.  At the food bank’s monthly board

meeting May 12)  executive director Alfredo Castillo reported   388

applications were processed during April. The applicants included 510

adults and 505 children.

 This year to date,  1,538 have applied, representing  2,097 adults and

1,953 children.  South Texas Food Bank has permanent sign up  sites  on

Friday from 2 p.m. to 6 at the HEB stores downtown, Zapata Highway and

Saunders Avenue and on Tuesdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the WIC Clinic on

Cedar Avenue and the Santo Nino Clinic on the Zapata Highway.

 “We’re anticipating additional funding because of the importance of the

program,” Castillo said. “We estimate that 70 percent (of those applying)

qualify. This is a great economic benefit to our community and we expect

it to get better. We’re hoping for a grant to expand.” He noted Webb

County residents fail to apply for more than $40 million of  SNAP annual

money earmarked for Laredo.

 The need for South Texas Food Bank services continues to increase because

to the difficult economic times spurred by  unemployment and under

employment.  The STFB distributed 900,007 pounds of product in April,

bringing the year’s total to 3,133,71 (3.1 million), surpassing the

2,656,513 pounds at this time last  year. Through March the STFB has

served 59,311 families, including 49,507 children, 93,573 adults and

130,145 meals.

South Texas Food Bank programs’ numbers are 650 families in adopt a family

(380 on a waiting list), 6,069 individuals in the mostly-elderly Commodity

Supplemental Food Program (1,324 on waiting list) and 616 children served

an after school meal Monday through Friday at 12 Kids Cafes.

 The food bank board approved two new distribution agencies — Iglesia

Monte Sinai in Rio Bravo and Living Word Church of Alto Bonito in Starr

County.

 The food bank is distributing 74.66 pounds per month per  person in

poverty, which surpasses the Feeding America standard of 55.85 pounds. The

poverty rate in the distribution area ranges from 30 to 41 percent, which

is double and state and triple the national average.  “These numbers and

poverty rate again highlight the need for fundraising,”  said Kevin Romo,

vice president of the board.  The food bank has a list of  upcoming

fundraisers, headed by  the Border Media Radio Drive June 28 to July 11

and the Laredo Energy Arena Empty Bowls IV on Aug. 25 that features a

concert by Three Dog Night and the STFB honoring State Sen. Judith Zaffirini.

The South Texas Food is a non-profit 501 c-3 organization. Tax deductible

donations can be sent to  PO Box 2007, Laredo, Tex., 78044. The phone

number is (956)  726-3120 and website, www.southtexasfoodbank,org   It is

also on facebook and twitter at facebook (South Texas Food Bank) and

twitter:  www.twitter.com/SoTxFoodBank The food bank, at 1907 Freight and

Riverside in west Laredo,  is open Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to noon

and 1 to 5 p.m.

 ______________________________________________