ABOUT THE FOOD BANK
The West Texas Food Bank is a non-profit, non-governmental hunger relief organization. We are the largest collaborative non-profit agency in the Permian Basin, and proudly distribute donated and purchased food to children, families and seniors through a network of 100+ partners across 34,000 square miles of West Texas.
We serve 19 counties, including the two largest counties (Brewster and Pecos) in the state. Our service area includes 17 rural counties with many small communities which is one-third of the population we serve, and the metro area of Midland/Odessa, which constitutes two-thirds of the population we serve.
While the West Texas Food Bank does give food directly to those in need, we primarily function as a distribution center. After receiving donated and surplus food, as well as food purchased at low wholesale prices from manufacturers, the West Texas Food Bank serves as a clearinghouse to solicit, store, inspect, and repack food for our Partner Agencies.
Our vision is a West Texas without hunger. Therefore, our overall goal is to continually improve the quantity, variety, and nutritional quality of foods offered to agencies for distribution to low-income individuals and families in need.
We will not turn anyone away who is hungry, and there is never a fee to our clients who are in need of food.
The West Texas Food Bank welcomes volunteers to both facilities to sort and process donated product, assist with pantry clients, help with gardening needs, and other tasks. Evening and Saturday volunteer opportunities are offered, and large groups are coordinated regularly. This army of volunteers is an integral part of the food bank’s operations, providing thousands of dollars in personnel cost savings that we can put back into serving the community.
OUR HISTORY
The West Texas Food Bank was founded in Odessa, Texas in 1985 by a group of concerned citizens who wanted to address the critical issue of hunger in West Texas. In the first year of operation, the Food Bank distributed more than 200,000 pounds of food to 40 Partner Agencies.
Odessa is still home to the main administrative offices for the West Texas Food Bank, our warehouse and distribution center. The West Texas Food Bank also operates a state of the art Volunteer and Education center in Midland.
The West Texas Food Bank is a member of Feeding America, the nation’s largest hunger relief network. We are also a member of Feeding Texas, a network of food banks that provide hunger relief across the state. These affiliations hold us accountable to rigorous standards and audits, helping ensure the highest quality service for our partner agencies, clients, and communities.
ACHIEVEMENTS
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Executive Director Libby Campbell awarded the Dick Goebel Prize by Feeding America – 2019
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Feeding America Green Innovator Award – 2017
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Midland Reporter Telegram Organization of the Year – 2017
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Odessa College Nonprofit Organization of the Year – 2017
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Providing over 500,000 pounds of food and supplies for emergency relief to the Hurricane Harvey affected area – 2017 to present
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Providing tens of millions of pounds of food and fresh produce to the Permian Basin and Trans-Pecos during the COVID-19 Pandemic