Amarillo, TX - If you've ever been truly hungry, you know the fear and despair that hunger brings with it. Hunger is more than just a physical need - it's a sense of insecurity, vulnerability, and weakness. It robs you of your sense of joy and quality of life.
Almost twenty percent of households in the Texas panhandle face food insecurity, and the High Plains Food Bank is racing to keep up with demand while dealing with falling revenue.
The HPFB serves 29 counties in west Texas, and they rely almost exclusively on donations. But donations have been waning since 2008, when the housing bubble burst and sent the U.S. economy into a nosedive.
And leaner times have businesses and individuals alike tightening their belts and changing their priorities - and that means those who need help may be left on their own.
"It really is a concerning trend," said Zack Wilson of the HPFB, "but we have two options in front of us: We can either hope for the best, and really not do anything to adjust, or we can adjust."
And of course, the Food Bank is adjusting by looking for more revenue, but some ways they're adjusting are focused more on public outreach, like measuring goals in meals instead of pounds, so it's easier to envision the impact.
"It's hard to grasp what 600,000 pounds of food is like," said Wilson, "so that's what we are doing, and really kind of kicking it off this week, to say, 'Hey, we hope to raise enough food and funds to help us provide 500,000 meals."
This year, the HPFB is in serious need of canned vegetables (particularly green beans and peas, which they are currently purchasing), soup, tuna, peanut butter, and pasta - foods with high nutritional content and a long shelf life.
But any donation of food, money, time, or sponsorship, is greatly appreciated.
If you'd like to learn how you can help or more about hunger in America and Texas, follow the links attached to this story.
"It is an eternal obligation toward the human being not to let him suffer from hunger when one has a chance of coming to his assistance."
- Simone Weil
