Founded in 1982, the Houston Food Bank is a certified member of Feeding America, the nation’s food bank network. They distribute fresh produce, meat and nonperishables and prepare nutritious hot meals for kids in their state-of-the-art Keegan Kitchen. Around 1 million people in the 18 southeast Texas counties served by Houston Food Bank are considered food insecure, meaning they lack consistent access to enough nutritious food to fuel a healthy life. In order to address this issue, the Houston Food Bank distributes food and other essentials to those in need through a network of more than 1,600 community partners.
In October 2022, Kiara Sanchez worked with the Houston Food Bank to provide those in need in the community with food and resources. This is her story.
Question: What did you like most about your experience?
Kiara: I loved that I had a day to go out and take care of my spirit and the people who make it worth doing.
Q: Why did you choose to work with the Houston Food Bank?
K: I have always had an inclination to help those who are food deficient. This was a great opportunity to give back to the people who needed us now.
Q: What were your responsibilities?
K: While volunteering, I had the responsibility of “shopping.” Through the Community Resource Center, individuals can choose from various food items located in the Houston Food Banks Pantry. My job was to fill each order into a basket that would later be bagged and available for pick up at a later time.
Q: What impact did your volunteer experience have on others?
K: My impact gave people in need necessary food resources to sustain them for either a day, a week, or even longer depending on how they use this resource.
Q: What other causes are you passionate about?
K: I’m passionate about helping our veterans, those who are in the foster care system, and individuals who are fighting depression and other mental health challenges.
Q: What was your key takeaway from the experience?
K: Some people need a lot of food and others just need a little. No matter the need, the Houston Food Bank is available to provide for those people.
Thank you Kiara for your impact on the community! We’re so thrilled to be able to share your story.