Snack Pak 4 Kids, a non-profit organization whose typical mission is to provide weekend meals for food insecure students in Amarillo and the surrounding areas today announced that they, along with their partners, have surpassed one million dollars in food distribution to the community over the past ten weeks. While continuing to serve their students with weekend bags of food, they coordinated with numerous area organizations and began giving away boxes of food to serve the increased needs of the community.
What began with two pallets of food from the USDA’s Farmers to Families program, has since grown to a twice-weekly, no-questions-asked food distribution for more than three thousand families each week. Guests drive through and volunteers place boxes of fresh produce, dairy and protein in their vehicle. Snack Pak 4 Kids also partners with more than two dozen local churches and non-profit organizations to increase the number of neighborhoods and areas served.
“This started with an opportunity for food, an idea, and the generosity and willingness of multiple community partners. We saw a need that wasn’t being met and found a way to rise to the challenge and serve the community in a new way. In partnership with so many valuable organizations, we have an opportunity for families to access high quality, fresh produce at a time when many people are struggling.
Ten weeks ago when Shane Redline with Jax Transport said, “You find the food, I’ll go get it.” that was all it took to put the wheels in motion. From there, Hillside Christian Church became another integral partner. It’s been a huge help to hundreds of families.” said Dyron Howell, Executive Director and Founder of Snack Pak 4 Kids.
Hillside Christian Church Local Missions Pastor, Christopher Bunch said, “We have been overwhelmed by how our church congregation has stepped up to volunteer time, energy, and resources to distribute this food. The smiles of gratitude and relief on peoples’ faces shows just how much of a need we are truly helping to meet.”
Carla Hughes, President/CEO of ADVO Companies Inc. said, “I’d like to thank Snack Pak 4 Kids volunteers and community partners for the unbelievable assistance Advo Companies has received from the Farmers to Families program. COVID-19 brought some very difficult challenges to our consumer and staff; however, not worrying about where their next meal would come from was not one of them because of the Farmers to Families program. Our consumers received fresh fruits, vegetables, dairy and meats just as your slogan states – not only can kids not learn, but families can’t survive without food. Thank you for making sure that Advo Companies and those we serve have had healthy food choices during these challenging times.”
A Downtown Women’s Center Resident echoes the sentiment, “Thank you for providing the food boxes to us. It takes a lot of pressure off of us women and children in recovery.”
Thank you to the many volunteers, organizations and communities who have helped make this program possible in our communities.
Community Partners:
Jax Transport
Hillside Christian Church
Baptist Community Services
Power Church
Rocking T Trucking
Go Fresh
DiMare Fresh
Sarah Farms
Graves Food
Amarillo Thermo King
Advo Companies
Amarillo Children’s Home
Amarillo Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance
Another Chance House
Bethesda Outreach Center
Catholic Charities of the Texas Panhandle
Downtown Women’s Center
Eastridge Mission Center
Heal the City Free Clinic
High Plains Children’s Home
Home Depot
Martha’s Home
New Covenant Missionary Baptist Church
Power Church
San Jacinto Elementary
St. John Baptist Church
Sunshine Cottage
Washington Ave Christian Church
Wildcat Bluff Nature Center
Wills Elementary
WT Athletics
Snack Pak 4 Kids Dumas
Snack Pak 4 Kids Farwell
Cactus, TX
Canyon, TX
Dumas, TX
Farwell, TX
White Deer, TX
Food distribution will continue on Tuesday and Thursday at 10am at the Snack Pak 4 Kids Warehouse, 2406 SW 3rd Avenue, through August 13. The program will be reevaluated at that time.
The mission of Snack Pak 4 Kids is to end weekend hunger by providing children with brand new, brand-name food, so they are prepared to learn on Monday morning. Each Snack Pak offers kids more than 70 grams of protein, reduced sugar, and whole grain options – important for a healthy, nutritious, and balanced diet. The organization began nearly ten years ago, serving ten children at Will Rogers Elementary. It has grown in to a food-buying cooperative now serving more than 10,000 students in 52 school districts. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the organization has seen a more than 50% increase in the need for weekend food assistance.
