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 (EPFH) is closely monitoring the evolving Coronavirus 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.

We expect the need for food assistance to grow in the coming weeks and months. The Food Bank is undertaking the following actions to help meet the need in West Texas:

• Creating at least 7,000 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 distribution schedules, 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
• Exploring the possibility of additional food distributions with the City of El Paso as well as the surrounding regions
• 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:

• West - Vinton, TX:

Bill Childress Elementary School - 7700 Cap Carter Road on Mon & Fri from 10AM-2PM

• Central:

Kelly Center for Hunger Relief at 915 N. Florence on Tuesday through Friday from 10AM-2PM & Saturday from 9AM-12PM.

• Northeast:

Katie's Pantry at 4801 Sun Valley - Monday through Friday from 10AM-2PM.

• East/Far East/Socorro/Clint/San Elizario/Fabens/Horizon:

El Pasoans Fighting Hunger Food Bank at 9541 Plaza Circle - Monday through Friday from 9AM-3PM & Saturday from 9AM-5PM.