Donation toward new truck lets food bank offer more meals to area seniors

The High Plains Food Bank (HPFB), with the help of the Jane Phillips Society, unveiled its new new box truck for the Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP) on Friday afternoon during an event at the Holiday Inn Amarillo West Medical Center.

In August 2022, the Jane Phillips Society presented HPFB with more than $69,000 in loving memory of Jane Gibson Phillips. This funding allowed the food bank to purchase a new box truck for CSFP, so more seniors in the Texas Panhandle can access the program and their monthly food box.

With the donation and additional funding from the food bank, they were able to purchase a new box truck entirely dedicated to the CSFP, including a customized wrap on the vehicle thanking the Jane Phillips Society for their contributions.

"When we did the truck presentation, you could see in the eyes and hearts and souls of all of these women and gentleman in the Society that this was a cause that was very near and dear to their hearts," Andrea Johnson, Assistant Director for the HPFB said. "After speaking to a few and learning that they are already volunteers at some of the pantries that we work with across the Panhandle, that was wonderful to hear and see. Not only are they involved in helping to provide funds so that we could purchase a new truck, but they also volunteer across the Panhandle, so it is a multi-prong approach from the Jane Phillips Society that truly gives back to their communities and the HPFB, and we thank them."

Over the years, the Jane Phillips Society National Memorial Fund has contributed more than $300,000 to charities throughout the United States. With their donation leading to the purchase of the truck, the food bank is looking to serve more area senior citizens through their program.

Currently HPFB is serving approximately 2,200 area seniors as a part of the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) program assigns them to serve, although the program includes an approximate total of 4,500 individuals on the program. Johnson estimates that with the new truck, they could potentially serve every individual enrolled in the TDA program.

"We are able to increase the number of our client base, so we will continue to serve the 2,200 that is guaranteed with the CSFP program but also are still looking for more seniors that are looking to be on that supplemental food box program. ... Conservatively, we could certainly serve all 4,500," Johnson said.

According to the food bank, the truck will now allow for better transportation to rural areas, in addition to more urban areas, seeking assistance and therefore many more seniors.

Each supplemental food box includes canned vegetables, fruit and proteins, along with a grain, cereal, dry or shelf stable milk, dried fruit and commodity cheese. According to HPFB, the content of vegetables, fruits, and grains vary by month to offer variety and accommodate to the flow of supplies.

"All of these ingredients are either low sugar, no sugar, low sodium no sodium options, so it is everything that a senior needs for a proper diet. And then on top of that, every box comes with a two-pound block of commodity cheese. And every time we say that, the seniors are so excited because they recall receiving it some time in the '60s and '70s and say 'it's the best cheese in the universe'," Johnson said.

"We are leaning more towards and what Feeding America calls 'Food to Encourage.' ... You can always add more sugar, more salt to whatever you are preparing, but we are trying to address food as a means to combat illnesses. So, if we are giving them the nutrition they need without the added sugar and sodium, then we can cut down on the food related health issues that could be avoided," Johnson added.

For individuals seeking to learn more, volunteer, or apply for CSFP, visit the food bank online at https://www.hpfb.org/ .

This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: High Plains Food Bank unveils new truck, thanks Jane Phillips Society