In response to the sharp increase in food insecurity within North Texas, up by 5% from last year, the North Texas Food Bank (NTFB) is hitting the streets with a new fleet of trucks and trailers aimed at keeping pace with the growing demand for food assistance. Revealed at the Perot Family Campus in Plano, NTFB's purchase of these vehicles is a strategic move funded by a $12 million federal grant, as reported by FOX 4 News.
NTFB President and CEO Trisha Cunningham shared at a news conference that these new trucks will fuel the nonprofit’s efforts to deliver food more efficiently across a 13-county area now serving a volume of individuals enough to fill Globe Life Field 16 times. The Globe Newswire revealed that the funding is sourced from The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, distributed through the Food Bank Capacity Building Grant program.
Among the fleet, NTFB welcomed 20 new vehicles from Peterbilt Motors Company, a local manufacturer, and praised the vehicles for their potential to provide an additional 2.4 million meals annually. “The savings from reduced transportation costs will help provide an additional 2.4 million meals annually for children, families, and seniors facing hunger in North Texas,” explained Cunningham in a statement shared by Globe Newswire.
The vehicles are not just there for transportation; they are also facilitating access to services through the NTFB SNAP Mobile, which tours isolated communities to assist with applications for SNAP and other programs. With support in part from Tom Thumb/The Albertsons Foundation and the Kalman and Ida Wolens Foundation, the SNAP Mobile emerged in Fiscal Year 2023, equipped with private desks and Wi-Fi.
Continuing to address the food crisis, NTFB is also introducing container pantries and refrigerated produce pods, which will bolster food distribution, especially in areas underserved and inadequately equipped to store perishable goods. These additions, designed to hold volumes of food including fresh produce, aim to offer up to 36,000 pounds of food monthly per pantry. They are set to be a game-changer, providing 360,000 nutritious meals a year, contributing significantly to the fight against hunger.
With this bolstered fleet in operation, the NTFB is taking a steadfast approach to closing the hunger gap in North Texas and securing a hunger-free future for many. “Our new fleet of vehicles provides the North Texas Food Bank with the tools we need to help close the hunger gap in North Texas and provide children, adults, and seniors a hunger-free future,” Cunningham told Globe Newswire. As lines of cars queuing for food assistance continue to stretch ever longer, the NTFB’s initiative comes as a relief to the nearly 640,000 individuals in North Texas who are uncertain about their next meal, with children making up a third of this number.
