The San Antonio Food Bank, in partnership with Northside Independent School District (NISD), hit a major landmark today as they celebrated their 100th mega food distribution event. The collaboration, which was born out of the urgent needs of the COVID-19 pandemic, has resulted in over four million pounds of food given out to date. The milestone distribution took place at the Gustafson Stadium, beginning at 8:15 a.m, with over 1,000 households anticipated to receive the much-needed groceries, as FOX San Antonio reported.
The cooperation began in early stages of the pandemic, quickly transforming the stadium's parking lot from a sports venue into a hub of humanitarian efforts. Under the guidance of Eric Cooper, the food bank's president, and NISD, which includes police security and volunteer mobilization, the initiative successfully adapted to meet the skyrocketing community needs. "For a stadium that has had some phenomenal performances of athletic ability and skill, it's kind of cool that in the shadow of it, you had people executing at the same level of excellence in humanity and service," Cooper told Express-News.
The venture has served upwards of 262,000 individuals from across Bexar County since April 2020, moving beyond the initial pandemic response to tackle ongoing food insecurity challenges. Even as demand for emergency food aid has fluctuated, the partnership has remained steadfast. This dedication seems ever more crucial amid recent cuts to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits that have exacerbated the hardships for many low-income families struggling with rising food costs.
Mirroring the community's commitment, NISD keeps up its support, with food bank liaison Don Schmidt highlighting the district's determination to “show our students the importance of giving back to the community.” Despite facing new challenges such as a noted uptick in demand coupled with donation supply issues, Cooper expresses gratitude for the consistent assistance NISD provides. "You can become pretty stressed, but when you see the consistency of a partner like Northside, it helps you to weather things," Cooper conveyed to Express-News. The San Antonio Food Bank continues to encourage individuals interested in receiving help or volunteering to visit their website at safoodbank.org.
