Programs in Texas
State programs are vital to the Food Bank's ability to provide fresh, nutritious food to hungry Central Texans and provide support for Federal nutrition programs.
Texas Fresh Approach Project
Texas inmates plant and harvest fresh fruits and vegetables for distribution at no cost to the Food Bank's Partner Agencies. The prison provides land, labor and agricultural expertise, and the inmates gain self-esteem from knowing they are giving back to hungry Central Texans. This program supplies the Food Bank and its Partner Agencies with nutritious, locally-grown produce far below the market price. In 2006, more than 55,000 pounds of produce was donated, saving the Food Bank more than $9,000 in purchasing costs.
Texas Second Chance Program
In this partnership with the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, non-violent prison inmates help CAFB sort through thousands of pounds of incoming donations each week. This volunteer workforce of state inmates provide an average of 3,000 hours of service to the Food Bank each year. At the same time, the inmates learn such skills as forklift operation and warehouse inventory that they can take with them to the job market upon their release.
Surplus Agricultural Grant Program
This state grant facilitates the donation of surplus agricultural product to help feed hungry Texans. Food Banks are able to offer farmers three cents-per-pound of produce donated to help offset the cost of harvesting and packaging surplus product. The program gives growers an incentive to donate fruits and vegetables that would otherwise be left unused. The Food Bank is able to turn each state dollar into more than $20 of product for those in need.
Integrated Eligibility and Enrollment Program
The Integrated Eligibility and Enrollment (IEE) program allows Texans in need to apply for a variety of services, including food stamps, in person at more than 200 state offices, through the Internet, over the phone, and by fax or by mail. This new system is designed to improve Texans' access to health and human service programs with quality, accuracy and efficiency.
- The Food Bank encourages the Legislature to continue monitoring and improving the IEE program, specifically food stamp enrollment, and make eligibility and enrollment a top priority.
Contact Your Elected Officials
Know who represents you at the local, state, and federal level. Become familiar with these elected officials since they are the ones to contact in order for your voice to be heard on hunger issues.
Find Your Elected Officials
