SAN ANGELO, Texas — More than 2,400 pounds of apples were donated to the Concho Valley Regional Food Bank and Rust Street Ministries as part of the United Supermarkets “Take a Bite out of Hunger” program. Each agency received 1,240 pounds from the program.
The food bank covers 13 counties in the Concho Valley and agencies in the area pick up donated food and hand it out to those in need.
CVRFB Executive Director Lee Pipkin said Tuesday's donation will have a huge impact.
“It’s whether it’s a senior that might need the nutrition or fresh produce or child that needs that nutritional kick,” Pipkin said.
Rust Street Ministries serves 15-40 families a day and most of the food the nonprofit distributes is from the food bank or donated directly.
“We don't get near as much produce as we would like to have for our folks and so this is just this is going to be great , folks love getting fresh fruit and it’s just going to be a big help for us,” Rust Street Ministries Director, David Ingram, said.
Throughout the week, United Family stores which operates Market Street in San Angelo will donate 50,000 pounds of apples in Texas and New Mexico. The company has a partnership with Fresh Fruits in Washington state. Fresh Fruits makes donations to communities for apples sold in stores.
“Donating food back into the community is a huge part of what we do, community is huge to us and so partnerships like this allow us the opportunity to reach more people,” Market Street Store Director, Kylond Atteberry, said.
The CVRFB said it will have agencies in the area pick up the apples to give away as soon as possible.
“Fresh produce like this is such a needy thing and wanted thing just to help people in their overall nutritional makeup,” Pipkin said.
This is the 12th year Fresh Fruits donated to communities through the "Take a Bite out of Hunger” program, which was started with a mission to raise awareness on food insecurity and feed people in need.