South Texas (18 May 2018)– The South Texas Food Bank officially kicked off the Capital Improvements Campaign today at their new facility located at 2121 Jefferson St.

South Texas Food Bank Board President Doug Howland announced the campaign goal of $5.7 Million. These funds will be used to renovate o the newly purchased 93,000 sq. ft. facility fit the food banking needs of the South Texas Food Bank and to be in compliance with USDA and Feeding America requirements.

Hickey-Peña Architect firm and Dominion Builders, LLC were contracted for the renovations. 

Among the new facility features will be an on-site community garden, a volunteer center, a pavilion, and a state-of-the-art kitchen.

Howland expressed his excitement over the new possibilities that this facility will bring to food bank and the communities in the eight-county service area that the food bank serves. He also made mention that there are several organizations and businesses that have been contacted and have expressed an interest in supporting this campaign.

 Present at the announcement where the South Texas Food Bank board members, staff, food bank member agency representatives and City of Laredo Mayor Pete Saenz and Webb County Judge Tano Tijerina – the latter made special remarks about the positive impact that this new facility will bring to the community.

City of Laredo Mayor Pete Saenz made mention of his time as his time as a board member the last time the food bank went into a capital campaign in the mid-1990s to purchase the current location at 1907 Freight St.

The Mayor recalled both the challenges and the support of the community and the many different organizations that stepped up to the plate to support.

Alma Boubel, South Texas Food Bank Executive Director, mentioned the different reasons that led to this decision, “The food bank board had been contemplating the idea of purchasing a new facility for some years now and an extensive search for a suitable property was done. We ran out of both office and warehouse space some years back. We at times had to decline loads of food and we were unable to expand on the types of services that we could offer to our clients.”

Boubel is confident that this new facility will allow the food bank to receive more fresh produce and add new programs for the clients and community, including cooking classes.

Staff and services are expected to start at the new facility as soon as it is operational. A ribbon cutting ceremony will be announced at a later time and will part of the food bank’s upcoming 30^th Anniversary.

A tour of the facility was given after the program.

About the South Texas Food Bank

The South Texas Food Bank is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization whose mission is to alleviate hunger in the eight-county service area in the south Texas area by collecting and distributing food through partner agencies and programs while creating awareness and educating the community on the realities of hunger. The food bank serves an average of 28,000 families; 9,500 elderly; and 1,600 children per month throughout their eight-county service area: Webb, Zapata, Jim Hogg, Maverick, Dimmit, Val Verde, Kinney and Starr. South Texas Food Bank Food pantries can be found in communities like Laredo, Zapata, Hebbronville, Eagle Pass, Brackettville, Del Rio, Roma, Rio Grande City and other rural communities.

The South Texas Food Bank is a proud member of Feeding America, Feeding Texas and the United Way of Laredo.

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