The COVID-19 crisis continues to strain the donated food supply generally available to the San Antonio Food Bank. Limited donated food availability is demanding the Food Bank adapt its distribution methods to ensure equitable food access across the Food Bank’s 16-county service territory. The Food Bank is now consolidating the weekly mobile distributions it fulfills and supports during normal business operations to only a handful of “mega distribution sites” for the remainder of the COVID-19 response effort. (San Antonio Food Bank, 2020)
These mega distribution sites are intended to get emergency food to households in immediate need. The Food Bank hopes that its network of 500+ food pantries across the region, along with the many programs and services offered by the Food Bank will continue to meet ongoing needs.
Individuals seeking immediate help can sign up online for an upcoming mega distribution at or by calling the Food Bank’s helpline during normal business hours: 210-431-8326. Pre-registration is required.
This new distribution effort also means a new opportunity for volunteers to engage in acts of service during the COVID-19 crisis. Volunteers will be asked to follow the strict safety protocols put in place by the Food Bank as a response to this crisis. Those interested in volunteering at a public distribution can sign up online and click on “volunteer sign up.”
The San Antonio Food Bank launched its ‘Neighbor Helping Neighbor’ to reach out to individuals and families in need. Photo: Google
After a two-week effort to front-load low-income households with groceries and household supplies, the San Antonio Food Bank is launching a new phase in its coronavirus response: the Neighbor Helping Neighbor relief effort. (San Antonio Food Bank, 2020)
The core components of this effort are two-fold: 1) ensuring every kitchen table in Southwest Texas has the core food items needed to get through this crisis; and, 2) ensuring that all our neighbors who might be elderly and living alone get a visit. The Food Bank will be adding mobile, grab-and-go meals and food distributions daily throughout Southwest Texas. Their website has up-to-date information on how and where individuals can get help.
With the economy suffering and San Antonio already struggling with the highest poverty rate in the country, the Food Bank is prepared to grow with the expanded need. The Food Bank’s website is the best place for information on how to give help. Volunteers are still in need, and one does not need to leave their house to be a good neighbor: every $1 provides 10 pounds of food/supplies to “Neighbor helping Neighbor.” The Food Bank is emphasizing that money donations are preferred over food donations; this allows the Food Bank to target specific items in specific quantity.
“This great city of ours has always been a city of compassion, and our state is known for its hospitality. The crisis in our midst is an opportunity for us to shine and lend support during a neighbor’s season of need. We may have a neighbor near us without food or without a family member to visit and check on them. “Neighbor helping Neighbor” is about stocking the shelf and filling the heart.” – Eric Cooper, President & CEO of the San Antonio Food Bank
As for visits to the elderly and making sure that social isolation is minimized for our older neighbors, Cooper admits it is been something they started to do in the last year, thanks to funding from Humana, and that they learned a lot: “We have been setting the tables for seniors for years, but making home visits to thousands of seniors in the last year or so has reminded us that a table full of food can be empty of love if someone doesn’t have a friend or neighbor. We want our relief effort to be a kitchen table filled with both food and love.”
The San Antonio Food Bank launches program to help community prepare for coronavirus. Photo: Google
On Thursday March 5, the San Antonio Food Bank launched a month-long coronavirus “preparedness and prevention campaign.” The effort aims to reach as many as 300,000 low-income households in the Food Bank’s southwest Texas service territory with a 14-day supply of food and a coronavirus preparedness kit. (San Antonio Food Bank, 2020)
The Food Bank’s 14-day food benefit will consist largely of items in its “12 Most Wanted” list. This includes staple non-perishable items like rice, beans, pasta, soups, canned meats, canned vegetables and fruits, along with diapers and pet food. The coronavirus preparedness kit will contain hand sanitizer and cleaning disinfectant, along with other items available to the Food Bank.
The Food Bank will implement a three-part effort to help deliver their preparedness food benefits and coronavirus prevention kits to those in need: targeted mobile distributions in urban and rural areas of southwest Texas; stocking super-pantries and senior centers with the benefit; and opening up a portion of their warehouse for individual drop-in to secure the benefit.
To meet goals of this month-long campaign, the Food Bank aims to raise $1,500,000, or the equivalent of 15,000,000 lbs. of food/cleaning supplies. The public is invited to make contributions at the Food Bank’s website and every $5 provides one food/cleaning benefit to a person in need, with the goal to distribute 300,000 prevention and preparedness benefits in a month. Volunteers will also play a critical role in this response. If you cannot give food or funds, you are invited to give the gift of time. Special volunteer shifts will be set up for the campaign.
“Our low-income families, particularly our seniors on fixed incomes, don’t have the luxury of stocking up in case of a virus outbreak, and they certainly don’t have the ability to weather a two-week quarantine or leave-without-pay if their place of employment sees a slowdown in business.” – Eric Cooper, President and CEO of the San Antonio Food Bank
San Antonio Burger Week will take place from February 21 through March 1 to benefit the San Antonio Food Bank. Photo: Google
Beginning Friday February 21 through March 1, San Antonio Burger Week, in partnership with HeartBrand Beef and benefiting the San Antonio Food Bank, will pay homage to America’s original sweetheart: the hamburger. (San Antonio Food Bank, 2020)
During the second annual San Antonio Burger Week, more than 30 San Antonio eateries will offer $5 and $8 specialty burgers, with a portion of each plate benefiting the San Antonio Food Bank. Participating restaurants include Armadillo’s Texas Burgers, Babe’s Old Fashioned Food, Benjie’s Munch, Biff Buxby’s Burgers, Big Lou’s Burgers & BBQ, Big’z Burger Joint, Broadway 5050, Burger Boy, Burgerteca, Charlie Brown’s Neighborhood Bar & Grill, Cheesy Jane’s, Chris Madrid’s, Chunky’s Burgers, The Cove, Cover 3, Hopdoddy’s, Johnny Rocket’s at River Center, Mark’s Outing, OrderUp, Papa’s Burgers, Sam’s Burger Joint, Slider Provider, Southtown 101,The Lion & Rose, The Well, Tributary at the Marriott, Tripoli’s Mediterranean Grill and Zinc.
San Antonio Burger Week aims to entice locals to explore new restaurants across San Antonio’s vast culinary landscape. Specialty burgers will range from cheeseburgers to bacon burgers, to veggie burgers and everything in between. Patrons are encouraged to take advantage of special drink pairings and sides and to punch their SA Burger Week Passport for a chance to win prizes. More information, including updates, passport and participating restaurants is available online and on Instagram.
The San Antonio Food Bank takes pride in fighting hunger, feeding hope in their 16 county service area. They believe that no child should go to bed hungry, adults should not have to choose between a hot meal and utilities, nor a senior sacrifice medical care for the sake of a meal. Founded in 1980, The San Antonio Food Bank has quickly grown to serve 58,000 individuals a week in one of the largest service areas in Texas. Their focus is for clients to have food for today but to also have the resources to be self-sufficient in the future.
The PAWliday Pet Food Campaign is taking place through December 20. Photo: DaisyCares
Since 2009, DaisyCares has been helping feed pets of families in need through a partnership with the San Antonio Food Bank. From now through Friday December 20, 2019, DaisyCares is hosting the “PAWliday Pet Food Campaign.” Five years ago, DaisyCares was only serving about 25,000 pets and 10,000 families. Now, DaisyCares serves over 76,000 pets and 29,000 families annually. (San Antonio Food Bank, 2019)
With the holidays fast approaching, DaisyCares is experiencing a higher than normal request for pet food. Now more than ever before, families are faced with tough decisions between putting food on the table or in the bowls of their pets. Programs like DaisyCares help ensure that pets receive the nourishment they need and stay in their family’s home where they belong. Along with food items, DaisyCares is also in need of supplies like new toys/accessories, potty pads and cat litter. Food drop off sites are located throughout the city and include Alamo Heights Pet Clinic, Amigo Animal Hospital and Babcock Hills Veterinary Hospital. A full list of these sites can be found online.
DaisyCares is a 501c3 non-profit organization that helps people care for animals by providing pet food, veterinary care, and animal welfare education to the community. These services help over 76,000 pets and 29,000 pet owners annually.
Food insecurity is defined as a lack of consistent access to enough food for an active, healthy life. In the United States, food insecurity affects one in nine people. Food insecurity is a social determinant of health, which are conditions in people’s environment that can affect a wide range of health, functioning, and quality-of-life outcomes and risks. One in five households served by a local food bank has at least one member who has served in the U.S. military. To make an impact, the San Antonio Food Bank;Humana, a leading health and well-being company; and Conviva Care Centers have partnered on a food and fund drive benefitting military veterans from Veterans Day, November 11 through December 7, 2019. (San Antonio Food Bank, 2019)
As part of the “March Out Hunger” campaign, non-perishable food will be collected at locations throughout San Antonio, including: the Humana neighborhood location (950 S. General McMullen), the Humana office, and five Conviva Care Center locations. In addition to food donations, members of the community can provide monetary donations. Every $10 donation helps the San Antonio Food Bank provide 70 meals and can be done online.
The community is also invited to participate in a Ruck March at the Humana Rock ‘n’ Roll San Antonio Marathon during the 5K on Saturday, December 7 at 7:30a.m. In the military, soldiers carry a heavily-loaded rucksack, similar to a backpack, over a long distance. To bring awareness to food insecurity among our military and veteran community, participants will carry packs filled with non-perishable food donations and march the 5K route, delivering the food to the San Antonio Food Bank at the finish line. Those interested in marching should email Humana.
Donation stations:
Humana neighborhood location, 950 S. General McMullen, San Antonio, TX
Humana office, 8119 Datapoint Dr., San Antonio
Conviva – Guadalupe Care Center, 1314 Guadalupe St., Ste. 105, San Antonio
Conviva – DeLeon Care Center, 9727 Poteet Jourdanton Fwy., Ste. 108, San Antonio
Conviva – Greco Care Center, 4360 Greco Drive, San Antonio
Conviva – Legacy Place Care Center, 18414 US-281 North, Ste. 104, San Antonio
Conviva – Live Oak Care Center, 12602 Toepperwein Road, Ste. 100, San Antonio
According to the 2018 American Community Survey, San Antonio has earned the dubious recognition of having the highest percentage of people living in poverty among the Top 25 most populous metropolitan areas. (San Antonio Food Bank, 2019)
In the wake of this news, the San Antonio Food Bank is announcing two new capital projects to help meet the need and transform services to individuals living in poverty in the region.
On Friday September 27, Eric Cooper is expected to announce the building of a new Culinary Center targeted for the organization’s westside campus. The facility will have the ability to prepare more than 100,000 meals a day for children facing hunger.
Cooper will also announce the building of a one-of-a-kind apartment complex that they will build, own, and manage on their campus adjacent to their New Braunfels Food Bank. The apartments will be a component of a larger program offered by the Food Bank to help families with children afford to live and thrive in the ever-growing community of New Braunfels.
San Antonio Food Bank
5200 Enrique M. Barrera Pkwy
San Antonio, TX 78227
September is Hunger Action Month. Photo: Whataburger, used with permission.
This week, Whataburger announced their partnership with the San Antonio Food Bank for the tenth consecutive year. The goals is to fight hunger and raise awareness for SA Goes Orange, a month-long campaign during Hunger Action Month in September. (Whataburger, 2019)
From September 1 through 30, Whataburger will host a month-long fundraiser to raise money for the Food Bank. Customers who visit any Bexar County and New Braunfels Whataburger restaurant during that timeframe and donate at least $1 will receive a thank-you coupon good for a free Whataburger with purchase of a medium fry and 32-ounce drink on their next visit. Upcoming SA Goes Orange events include the September 14 and September 28 Volunteer Days at the Food Bank.
Whataburger has been making burgers since 1950 when Harman Dobson opened a humble hamburger stand in Corpus Christi, Texas. He wanted customers to take one bite and say, “What a burger” so he named his stand on Ayers St “Whataburger.” Whataburger now has over 700 locations across the country and continues to deliver fresh, made to order meals every day with superior customer service. Community support includes charitable giving and volunteerism to nonprofit organizations that focus on children’s charities, cancer research, hunger assistance, disaster relief and military support.
The San Antonio Food Bank is a 501c3 non-profit organization providing millions of pounds of food to over 500 charitable organizations in Southwest Texas serving those in need. In addition to food distribution, the San Antonio Food Bank provides numerous programs that not only solve the immediate problems of hunger, but help individuals and families gain long-term food security.
‘The Ban of Hunger’ won first place for Best Original Design at last year’s competition. Courtesy photo, used with permission.
This September, North Star Mall will host the 14th Annual Canstruction® design/build competition, one of the San Antonio Food Bank’s Hunger Action Month events to raise awareness and funds for hunger relief. From Monday, September 9, through Sunday, September 21, massive structures built using cans of food by the city’s most noted architecture, engineering and contracting firms will be on public display at North Star Mall, 7400 San Pedro. (North Star Mall, 2019)
Two competitors in last year’s local contest took home awards from the International Citywide Competition. Out of more than 1,000 entries submitted worldwide, Alamo Architects and Turner Construction won first place for “Best Original Design” for “The Ban of Hunger,” which featured a bigger than life matador standing behind his cape which appeared to be in motion. Luna Middleman Architects took home fourth place for “Structural Ingenuity” with their creation, “El Luchador Mask.” Just as its title suggests, the structure was a massive mask reminiscent of those worn by the famed Mexican wrestlers.
San Antonio’s 14th annual Canstruction® competition is part of an international drive to expand public awareness of the hunger crisis worldwide. Canstruction® combines the competitive spirit of a design/build competition with a unique way to help feed the hungry. It also showcases the talents of local design and construction industry professionals and the students they mentor.
Seven teams representing the San Antonio chapters of The American Institute of Architects and the Society for Design Administration are given 12 hours on Sunday, September 8 to defy expectations, logic and gravity as they assemble amazing sculptures using approximately 30,000 cans of food. The sculptures remain on display throughout North Star Mall’s common areas during mall hours through Saturday, September 21.
The following day the supersized masterpieces will be judged at the Canopener awards ceremony attended by industry professionals and special guests. Teams will vie for award categories in Structural Ingenuity; Best Use of Labels; Best Meal; Juror’s Favorite; Best Use of the Color Orange; and two Honorable Mentions. Cast a vote for the People’s Choice Award to be announced on September 22, voting details on site at North Star.
The competing teams include: RVK Architects with Lundy & Franke Engineering and F.A. Nunnelly General Contractors; Alamo Architects with Turner Construction; RS&H Architecture, Engineering & Consulting; Rogers O’Brien Construction; and The Art Institute of San Antonio. Two teams of architecture students from the AIAS Chapters of San Antonio College and UTSA are being sponsored by Broadway Bank.
The public is encouraged to donate canned food at a simultaneous food drive within the mall at participating retailers. All canned goods used to create the unconventional art exhibits at North Star Mall will be donated to the San Antonio Food Bank at the close of the competition. Over the last decade, Canstruction® has donated more than 472,095 pounds of food. As the major supplier of food for the hungry in Southwest Texas, the San Antonio Food Bank helps provide food for about 58,000 individuals each week through a network of more than 530 partner agencies within a 16-county service area. Every donation, every SA Goes Orange for Hunger campaign button worn and every means of public outreach helps to fight hunger and feed hope.
The Main Plaza Conservancy and the San Antonio Food Bank will kick-off the re-opening of the seasonal Main Plaza Farmers Market on Tuesday March 19. The Market will run each Tuesday through November and will feature local farmers and their produce, vendors with soap and jewelry, cooking demonstrations and mariachis and other entertainment. (San Antonio Food Bank, 2019)
The event begins at 10a.m. as the Main Plaza Farmers Market opens for sales, culinary demos and more. There will be an opening ceremony and speakers, including Jane Pauley, Executive Director, Main Plaza Conservancy, Eric Cooper, President and CEO of San Antonio Food Bank and Justin Rodriguez, Bexar County Commission, Precinct 2.
Main Plaza
115 N. Main Ave.
San Antonio, TX 78205
The San Antonio Food Bank is a 501c3 non-profit organization providing millions of pounds of food to more than 500 charitable organizations in Southwest Texas serving those in need. In addition to food distribution, the San Antonio Food Bank provides numerous programs that not only solve the immediate problems of hunger, but help individuals and families gain long-term food security.
The Main Plaza Conservancy and the 
SA Examiner 