Houston Food Bank is a resource for individuals and families in times of hardship, providing more than 120 million nutritious meals annually. Hundreds of thousands of people count on the organization and its 1,600 partners, and in turn, Houston Food Bank relies on the generosity of its many donors and supporters, from individuals to foundations to companies. Houston Food Bank recognized Walmart Distribution Center 7010, located in New Caney, Texas, as a top donor for fiscal year 2023 (July 1, 2022 to June 30, 2023).
“Feeding others is one of the most universal expressions of human care,” says Brian Greene, president/CEO of Houston Food Bank, “and we are fortunate to have corporate donors whose support allows us to provide food for better lives to our neighbors in 18 counties in southeast Texas. We are extremely grateful for the continued support of our donors, most especially to the top donors of 2023, who helped us to not only fill pantries but to fill lives of the more than one million people in our coverage area who experience the struggle of food insecurity on any given day.”
The Walmart Distribution Center donated 2,991,302 pounds of food to the Houston Food Bank, including fresh produce and packaged food items, which provided 2,492,752 meals to children and families in Houston Food Bank’s service area.The Houston Food Bank is a leader among national food banks in the distribution of fresh fruits and vegetables, and it is support from donors such as Walmart that makes this possible.
“Walmart has been a supporter of the Houston Food Bank for at least a decade, and the partnership with their New Caney distribution center plays a crucial role in addressing food insecurity in Greater Houston,” says Greene. “By providing Houston Food Bank with fresh produce, they help contribute to the nutritional well-being of individuals and families in our communities who may otherwise struggle to access nutritious food. Their commitment to donating excess product not only addresses hunger but also contributes to combating food waste. Walmart’s donations extend far beyond the shelves of their stores. Their donations touch the lives of those who need it most.”
“Walmart has a longstanding commitment to helping fight food insecurity. We partner with Feeding America member food banks, including the Houston Food Bank, to continue this fight in our local communities,” said Shannon Barrett, Walmart DC 7010 General Manager. “The Houston Food Bank serves on the frontlines in a tangible way, providing needed fresh produce and food to families in need. We stand with them to help Texans live better through expanding access to healthy food.”
In addition to year-round giving, Walmart runs its annual Fight Hunger. Spark Change. donation campaign. Nationally, Walmart has donated over $186 million through the campaign, in addition to donating 8 billion pounds of food. In 2023, the Houston Food Bank received $370,340 from the campaign, which created 1,111,020 meals. This year’s campaign is set to begin on April 1 and will continue until April 29. Feeding America and Walmart are looking forward to continuing to work together to take care of local communities and fight food insecurity.
According to Feeding Texas and Houston Food Bank, one in six Texans experience food insecurity, and around one million individuals in southeast Texas lack consistent access to nutritious food to fuel a regularly healthy lifestyle. For more information on Houston Food Bank and its programs, visit houstonfoodbank.org or call 713-223-3700.
About Walmart in Texas
Walmart Inc. (NYSE: WMT) helps people around the world save money and live better – anytime and anywhere. In Texas, we serve customers at nearly 600 retail locations and online through Walmart Online Grocery, Walmart.com, and our family of brands. We are proud to employ more than 177,000 associates in Texas. Walmart supports local businesses, spending $90.3 billion with Texas suppliers in FYE 2023 and supporting more than 255,000 Texas supplier jobs. Walmart continues to be a leader in employment opportunity, sustainability, and corporate philanthropy. Last year, Walmart and the Walmart Foundation contributed approximately $142.5 million in cash and in-kind donations to local nonprofits in Texas. Learn more at corporate.walmart.com, and our Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest channels.
About Houston Food Bank
Serving Houston and southeast Texas since 1982, Houston Food Bank’s mission is to provide food for better lives. We provide access to 120 million nutritious meals in 18 counties through our 1,600 community partners of food pantries, soup kitchens, social service providers and schools. Filling gaps on plates, we have a strong focus on healthy foods and fresh produce. In collaboration with our community, we advocate for policy change and racial equity, and promote dialogue on ways to increase access to food and to improve the lives of those in our communities, including services and connections to programs that address the root causes of hunger and are aimed at helping families achieve long-term stability: nutrition education, health management and help with securing state-funded assistance. We are a resource for individuals and families in times of hardship. Houston Food Bank works alongside our partner food banks in Montgomery County, Galveston County and Brazos Valley. Houston Food Bank is a certified member of Feeding America, the nation’s food bank network, with a four-star rating from Charity Navigator for the 13th consecutive year.
Website houstonfoodbank.org; Social media: @houstonfoodbank (Instagram and X), @thehoustonfoodbank (Facebook)