Today, the CREA team and fellows were invited to visit the San Antonio Food Bank (SAFB), hosted by Mitch Hagney, Director of Food Sustainability. This visit marks one of the first of many site visits planned for our CREA fellows as part of our multi year program. These visits are designed to deepen our students' understanding of the food supply chain from farm to table, and highlight the challenges of hunger both locally and globally, as well as the intricate logistics required to ensure food reaches those who need it most.
During our visit, we explored the essential role the SAFB plays in providing food access to vulnerable populations. Serving a 29-county region in Southwest Texas, the SAFB operates as a lifeline for individuals and families facing food insecurity. Their mission is not just about food distribution but about fostering a healthier, hunger-free community by addressing the root causes of hunger, supporting nutritional education, and advocating for policies that alleviate food scarcity.
The SAFB distributes millions of pounds of food each year, serving children, families, seniors, and individuals struggling with poverty, unemployment, or other hardships. Mitch highlighted the SAFB’s extensive programs, including emergency food assistance, mobile food pantries, nutrition programs for low-income families, and their efforts in supporting disaster relief across the region.
After touring the impressive warehouse, we witnessed the fast-paced, highly coordinated logistical operations that make SAFB’s work possible. From receiving, sorting, and packaging food to distributing it to partner agencies and directly to individuals, it’s clear the effort requires enormous coordination and community support. Mitch also shared the integral role of volunteers and inmates in the daily operations of the food bank, underscoring how crucial community participation is in maintaining this vital service.
One of the highlights of our visit was meeting the team behind Hunters for the Hungry, an innovative program that partners with local hunters to donate venison. SAFB has the capacity to process this wild game, allowing it to provide high-quality, local protein to families who need it most. The program exemplifies SAFB’s resourcefulness in using community assets to combat hunger.
The CREA Team believes that it’s essential for all our fellows and program participants to understand just how valuable the SAFB is to the fabric of our community and the lives of so many. Beyond food distribution, the SAFB embodies resilience, innovation, and compassion, providing a crucial safety net while also promoting self-sufficiency through education and outreach.
As we continue to engage with SAFB, we are excited about the opportunity for our CREA fellows and interns to contribute in meaningful ways. Whether through securing grant funding for SAFB’s programs, managing logistics, assisting in plant propagation, or refining systems for food preparation and distribution, the possibilities for learning and impact are endless.
Through this collaboration, our students will gain hands-on experience in tackling real-world challenges, helping to drive efficiency and innovation in food systems management, an area critical to solving food insecurity both locally and globally.
We look forward to seeing how our fellows will play an integral role in supporting SAFB’s mission, as they gain the skills and insights needed to contribute to sustainable food systems in their future careers.
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