El Pasoans Fighting Hunger Food Bank’s Response to COVID-19 (Coronavirus)

• March 20, 2020
• EPFHFB

Like the rest of the world, the El Pasoans Fighting Hunger Food Bank continues to closely monitoring the evolving Corona virus situation and following guidance from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), our national partner Feeding America and local entities including the El Paso County (https://www.elpasocountyhealth.org/).

The EPFH is a vital relief organization during times of crisis; internally, we have created a task force that meets regularly to ensure the health and wellness of our volunteers, staff and the community we serve as we work to provide the basic necessity of healthy food across our 3-county service area through our more than 130 partner agencies and our direct programs.

The need for food assistance continues to grow and we are on track to distribute over 130 million pounds off food by the end of the year. The Food Bank is undertaking the following actions to help meet the need in West Texas:

• Creating at least 8,000 family meal boxes each week and making these available for our Partner Agencies- by shifting to a box model, we can create a no to low touch distribution model that is safer for our partners and the neighbors they serve. For more information about changing distribution schedules, or Mobile Distributions regularly check our Facebook page.
• Enabling our Partner Agencies to create their own food boxes by providing them with boxes and food items
• Collaborating with the City of El Paso and County of El Paso to prepare and deliver food boxes to seniors being distributed at local Senior Centers
• Providing emergency food boxes to those who are in quarantine due to a positive COVID -19 diagnosis.
• Adding new food distribution sites in the North East and on the westside. in collaboration with the City of El Paso.
• Transitioning our Mobile Pantry program to a drive thru model to create a “low touch” experience

We will distribute emergency food boxes to those in need at the following drive-thru distribution sites:

East/Far East/Horizon sites:

- El Pasoans Fighting Hunger Food Bank - Monday - Friday from 8AM-5PM & Saturday from 8AM-5PM.

- Holy Spirit Church - 14600 Horizon Blvd. Horizon City, TX - Monday - Friday from 8AM - 3PM

West site:

- EPFH West Distribution - 5300 Doniphan, Monday - Fridays from 11AM - 6PM

Central site:

- Kelly Center for Hunger Relief - 915 N. Florence, Tuesday - Friday, 10AM- 2PM

Saturday 9AM-12PM.

Northeast:

- Nolan Richardson Recreation Center - 4435 Maxwell Dr., Monday - Friday, 8AM - 3PM

Complete list of mobile distribution sites.

• Since the beginning of the COVID-19 crisis in March, the food bank has faced a soaring demand and are serving more families and individuals struggling with hunger. So far, the EP Fighting Hunger has given out more than 1,463,569 emergency food boxes across the 5 major distribution sites and several mobile sites per week.