Tarrant Area Food Bank
Encyclopedia
Tarrant Area Food Bank (TAFB) is a private 501(c)(3) non-profit
food bank
located in Fort Worth, Texas
.
region, by securing surplus unmarketable but wholesome food and grocery products for distribution to area relief agencies.
Tarrant Area Food Bank is the distribution hub of a 13-county network of hunger-relief charities and social services centers in the following counties: Bosque
, Cooke
, Denton
, Erath
, Hamilton, Hill, Hood, Johnson
, Palo Pinto
, Parker
, Somervell
, Tarrant
, and Wise
.
As a central clearinghouse for donated food and groceries, the Food Bank receives fresh, frozen and nonperishable food donated by the food industry and the community. This product is distributed from a 69000 square feet (6,410.3 m²) warehouse in Fort Worth to over 300 partner agencies that serve abuse victims, children, the elderly, the chronically ill, the unemployed, the working poor, the homeless and other Texans in need.
Tarrant Area Food Bank provides emergency food for an estimated 279,800 different people annually with about 40,300 different people receiving emergency food assistance in any given week.
In 2009, 43% of the members of households served by the Tarrant Area Food Bank were children under 18 years old, 78% had incomes below the federal poverty level, and 13% were homeless.
Several types of organizations operate emergency food programs of the Tarrant Area Food Bank. In 2009, 67% of pantries, 47% of kitchens, and 33% of shelters were run by faith-based agencies affiliated with churches, mosques, synagogues, and other religious organizations. Private nonprofit organizations with no religious affiliation also made up a large share of other types of agencies served by the Tarrant Area Food Bank providing food assistance.
in December 1981, Tarrant Area Food Bank began distributing food in October of the following year. Three months later, at the end of 1982, the Food Bank had distributed donated food to 50 charities in Fort Worth. Since then, with the help of thousands of volunteers and 300 partner charities, Tarrant Area Food Bank has distributed more than 263 million pounds of food and household products.
In the late 1990s, TAFB began implementing programs to complement its food distribution program. The Food Bank now offers nutrition education to individuals and families receiving food assistance, two different feeding programs for children and free culinary job training for low-income adults, as well as assistance to individuals and families in applying for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
(SNAP/Food Stamps) and related benefits.
In 2008-09, TAFB received over $36 million in support, of which over $29 million consisted of donated food and grocery items and other in-kind donations. The Food Bank distributed over 19 million pounds, enough food for more than 15 million meals.
TAFB is a member of Feeding America, formerly named America's Second Harvest
.
Non-profit organization
Nonprofit organization is neither a legal nor technical definition but generally refers to an organization that uses surplus revenues to achieve its goals, rather than distributing them as profit or dividends...
food bank
Food bank
A food bank or foodbank is a non-profit, charitable organization that distributes mostly donated food to a wide variety of agencies that in turn feed the hungry. The largest sources of food are for-profit growers, manufacturers, distributors and retailers who in the normal course of business have...
located in Fort Worth, Texas
Fort Worth, Texas
Fort Worth is the 16th-largest city in the United States of America and the fifth-largest city in the state of Texas. Located in North Central Texas, just southeast of the Texas Panhandle, the city is a cultural gateway into the American West and covers nearly in Tarrant, Parker, Denton, and...
.
About
Tarrant Area Food Bank was established in 1982 to address the issue of hunger in the North TexasNorth Texas
North Texas is a distinct cultural and geographic area forming the central-northeastern section of the U.S. state of Texas. North Texas is generally considered to include the area south of Oklahoma, east of Abilene, and north of Waco...
region, by securing surplus unmarketable but wholesome food and grocery products for distribution to area relief agencies.
Tarrant Area Food Bank is the distribution hub of a 13-county network of hunger-relief charities and social services centers in the following counties: Bosque
Bosque County, Texas
Bosque County is a county located on the Edwards Plateau in the U.S. state of Texas. As of 2000, the population is 17,204. Its county seat is Meridian. Clifton, however, is the largest city and the cultural/financial center of the county. Bosque is named for the Bosque River, which runs through...
, Cooke
Cooke County, Texas
As of the census of 2000, there were 36,363 people, 13,643 households, and 10,000 families residing in the county. The population density was 42 people per square mile . There were 15,061 housing units at an average density of 17 per square mile...
, Denton
Denton County, Texas
Denton County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. In 2000, its population was 432,976; in 2009 the estimated population had reached 628,300. Part of the Dallas – Fort Worth Metroplex, it is one of the fastest-growing counties in the United States. The county seat is Denton. The county...
, Erath
Erath County, Texas
Erath County is a county located on the Edwards Plateau in the U.S. state of Texas. In 2000, its population was 33,001. It is named for George Bernard Erath, an early surveyor and a soldier at the Battle of San Jacinto. The seat of the county is Stephenville....
, Hamilton, Hill, Hood, Johnson
Johnson County, Texas
As of the census of 2000, there were 126,811 people, 43,636 households, and 34,428 families residing in the county. The population density was 174 people per square mile . There were 46,269 housing units at an average density of 63 per square mile...
, Palo Pinto
Palo Pinto County, Texas
As of the census of 2000, there were 27,026 people, 10,594 households, and 7,447 families residing in the county. The population density was 28 people per square mile . There were 14,102 housing units at an average density of 15 per square mile...
, Parker
Parker County, Texas
As of the census of 2003, there were 98,495 people, 31,131 households, and 24,313 families residing in the county. The population density was 98 people per square mile . There were 34,084 housing units at an average density of 38 per square mile...
, Somervell
Somervell County, Texas
There were 2,438 households out of which 37.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.70% were married couples living together, 9.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.50% were non-families. 21.30% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.20% had...
, Tarrant
Tarrant County, Texas
Tarrant County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2010 U.S. Census, it had a population of 1,809,034. Its county seat is Fort Worth. Tarrant County is the sixteenth most populous county in the United States and the third most populous in Texas. The county is named in honor...
, and Wise
Wise County, Texas
As of the census of 2000, there were 48,793 people, 17,178 households, and 13,467 families residing in the county. The population density was 54 people per square mile . There were 19,242 housing units at an average density of 21 per square mile...
.
As a central clearinghouse for donated food and groceries, the Food Bank receives fresh, frozen and nonperishable food donated by the food industry and the community. This product is distributed from a 69000 square feet (6,410.3 m²) warehouse in Fort Worth to over 300 partner agencies that serve abuse victims, children, the elderly, the chronically ill, the unemployed, the working poor, the homeless and other Texans in need.
Tarrant Area Food Bank provides emergency food for an estimated 279,800 different people annually with about 40,300 different people receiving emergency food assistance in any given week.
In 2009, 43% of the members of households served by the Tarrant Area Food Bank were children under 18 years old, 78% had incomes below the federal poverty level, and 13% were homeless.
Affiliations
Not to be confused with other food banks in Fort Worth, Tarrant Area Food Bank is a member of Feeding America (formerly America’s Second Harvest—The Nation’s Food Bank Network). This national network of more than 200 nonprofit food banks serves all 50 states. Tarrant Area Food Bank also belongs to the Texas Food Bank Network, which coordinates sharing of food donations and other resources among the 18 member food banks.Several types of organizations operate emergency food programs of the Tarrant Area Food Bank. In 2009, 67% of pantries, 47% of kitchens, and 33% of shelters were run by faith-based agencies affiliated with churches, mosques, synagogues, and other religious organizations. Private nonprofit organizations with no religious affiliation also made up a large share of other types of agencies served by the Tarrant Area Food Bank providing food assistance.
History
Chartered by the State of TexasTexas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
in December 1981, Tarrant Area Food Bank began distributing food in October of the following year. Three months later, at the end of 1982, the Food Bank had distributed donated food to 50 charities in Fort Worth. Since then, with the help of thousands of volunteers and 300 partner charities, Tarrant Area Food Bank has distributed more than 263 million pounds of food and household products.
In the late 1990s, TAFB began implementing programs to complement its food distribution program. The Food Bank now offers nutrition education to individuals and families receiving food assistance, two different feeding programs for children and free culinary job training for low-income adults, as well as assistance to individuals and families in applying for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
The United States Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program , historically and commonly known as the Food Stamp Program, is a federal-assistance program that provides assistance to low- and no-income people and families living in the U.S. Though the program is administered by the U.S. Department of...
(SNAP/Food Stamps) and related benefits.
Programs
TAFB provides these products through the following programs:- Food Distribution—TAFB's primary focus is to gather donations of perishable and non-perishable food and grocery products from corporate donors and local food drives, and to deliver them to food pantries and other relief agencies
- BackPacks for Kids—provides shelf-stable meals to elementary school children who run the risk of going hungry over the weekend (these children eat free or reduced-price breakfast and lunch meals at school during the week, often the only nutritious meals the children receive)
- Kid's Cafe—provides evening meals to children in after-school programs provided by partner agencies
- Cooking MattersShare our StrengthShare Our Strength is a national organization working to end childhood hunger in the United States. Share Our Strength holds culinary events, solicits individual donations, and utilizes social media efforts to raise funds which are then used to fund long-term solutions to the hunger problem...
--provides nutrition education and cooking classes to families, allowing them to make healthy food choices on a limited budget - Community Kitchen—provides free culinary job training to unemployed and low-income men and women and at the same time provides nutritious meals to partner charities.
- SNAP (Food Stamp) Outreach—aids individuals and families in accessing food SNAP and other state or federal assistance programs.
- Mobile Pantry—provides groceries to families in need in remote locations or in areas with limited access to fresh and frozen items.
- Community Garden—provided in collaboration with partners, this program enables communities to create their own local, sustainable food systems.
In 2008-09, TAFB received over $36 million in support, of which over $29 million consisted of donated food and grocery items and other in-kind donations. The Food Bank distributed over 19 million pounds, enough food for more than 15 million meals.
TAFB is a member of Feeding America, formerly named America's Second Harvest
America's Second Harvest
Feeding America is a United States-based non-profit organization. It consists of a nationwide network of more than 200 food banks and food rescue organizations that serve virtually every county in the United States as well as Puerto Rico. It is the nation's leading hunger-relief charity,...
.