Help Deliver The Goods
Friday, March 31, 2017
By: Misty Robertson

The Mobile Pantry makes fresh food accessible to people in areas of need.

Many people think that food banks mostly distribute non-perishable items. That is not the case here at the Houston Food Bank, where 40% of our distribution is fresh produce. This is largely possible through Community Food Fairs using a Mobile Pantry.

A Mobile Pantry is like a market on wheels. A Houston Food Bank truck like the one seen above is loaded with 20,000 pounds of nutritious food which includes fresh fruits/vegetables and refrigerated dairy items. The items are delivered to a host site, which can be a partner agency, multi-service center or other partner such as a dental office. The site often has limited or no capacity for refrigeration and/or freezer storage. The Mobile Pantry makes fresh food accessible to people in areas of need and is open to anyone who requires food assistance.

Once the truck arrives, volunteers help unload and distribute the food. In addition to distributing food, social service counseling is offered on-site for qualified participants to get registered for SNAP, TANF, MEDICAID, Medicare and CHIP.  Often nutrition education and health screenings will also be available.

Do you know a company that might be interested in sponsoring a Mobile Pantry Distribution? Visit our Corporate Partners page to learn more.