Food Bank of West Central Texas

The staff at the Food Bank of West Central Texas developed a program a few years ago to distribute excess bread and produce instead of tossing it in the trash. The staff could not stand to come to work on Monday mornings and find that perishable items had not lasted over the weekend and had to be thrown in the dumpster. It did not take very long to develop the Friday Morning Give-Away. Thursday afternoons, staff and volunteers pack breads, pastries, fresh produce and any other perishable items in banana boxes. Then on Friday morning at 7 a.m. the employees open the doors to the Public. It is first come-first-served to receive a banana box. Some people arrive as early as 4:30 a.m. to get in line. It is evident that the people standing in line are in need of assistance. Staff reminds them that they can call 2-1-1, and they will be referred to a pantry or program where they can receive additional help.