Report shows hunger is growing across North Texas – Food bank aid rises in Wichita Falls

By: Judith McGinnis

Aimee Brown with Floral Heights United Methodist Church Pantry

WICHITA FALLS, Texas – Feeding America, the nation’s largest hunger-relief charity, has crunched the numbers and says that what many expected is true.

Demand for assistance for Wichita Falls Area Food Bank services, whether it be food pantries or feeding programs, is growing.

“We’ve seen a 46 percent increase in the number of clients compared to last year,” said food bank executive director Mark McKethan, reviewing survey data collected between September and November 2013 across the agency’s 11-county service area.

“More than 75 percent of the people we help say pantries and feeding sites (senior centers, children after-school programs) have a major effect on their ability to feed their families. With a third of the population in our service area sitting on the threshold of poverty, their heads just barely above water but still not qualified for other assistance, it adds up.”

Line by line, the picture of food bank clients becomes clear:

■ Annual household income for 87 percent of clients is under $30,000.

■ 56 percent of households are living in poverty ($23,850 or less for a family of four, according to U.S. Department of Health and Human Services).

■ 67 percent of households have someone who is out of work.

■ 55 percent of food bank aid goes to children or seniors over 60, and 22 percent of seniors seeking assistance are caring for grandchildren.

■ Among client families, 26 percent have at least one member who is serving in the military or is a veteran.

This picture becomes even clearer in human terms when visitors drop by on pantry day at Floral Heights United Methodist Church. Aimee Brown, director, says that in 2013 the pantry, which operates from 9:30-11 a.m. on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays, helped almost 28,000 people.

“Last month we served 1,000 families with 229 people that had never been here before,” Brown said, watching seniors, mothers with young children, unemployed day laborers and disabled people line up for the food distribution. “That’s when you know things out there are really falling apart.”

Brown produces statistics for the Floral Heights pantry, not only on the number of clients but basic social profiles.

Of the thousands served, the majority were Anglo/Caucasian.

Backed by 20 volunteers, Brown says one of the program’s greatest blessings has been the introduction of the Produce Express, an effort that provides nutritious fresh produce along with shelf-stable foods.

“We bag up things like lettuce, pineapple, strawberries, oranges. Things you’d find in the grocery store but they’re just too expensive for these families,” Brown said. “We have a lady whose A1C level (average blood glucose) was through the roof. Once she started getting good, fresh produce, the levels came down. And we know we have cancer patients who need fresh, raw fruits and vegetables.”

McKethan said concerns were voiced when Produce Express was introduced this year, that it might cut into grocery store produce sales.

So far the food bank has distributed 600,000 pounds of fresh fruits and vegetables, double what was distributed in 2013.

“We’ve checked informally with large grocers like United and Walmart, and so far the program has had zero impact on retail,” he said. “There are just that many more hungry people, and the benefit of fresh food is clear — better health.”

For more information on the Feeding America study, go to feedingamerica.org. More information on hunger initiatives is available at feedingamerica.org.