Tom Newell sharing his goal to end hunger in Denton County
Vicki Baker
“Put me out of business!” That’s what Tom Newell, Chairman of Denton Community Food Center exclaimed to the packed room during the February 4 Kiwanis Club meeting. Clearly no single organization can solve world hunger, but the Food Center definitely plays an integral role fighting hunger by serving 21 cities, towns and communities in 31 different zip codes in northern Denton county. Founded in 1974, the Food Center provides food from a central community storehouse to needy individuals and families in emergency situations. It is an all-volunteer staffed and run, donor-funded and supported, community based charity.
About 19% of Denton County residents are “food insecure” meaning 100,000 residents often go hungry for several meals, for several days. The Food Center provides staples, canned and packaged foods, frozen meats, fresh vegetables and juices to individuals and families in emergency situations. To qualify for services, recipients need only state they are in need; no questions, no applications, no screenings. Many residents just walk through the doors, but others are referred by local churches or social service agencies.
The Food Center “purchases” food from the Tarrant Area Food Bank by using their bulk buying power where they are able to multiply donated dollars six to seven times the actual cost of the food items. All donated dollars and food stay within the Denton community. Also, through partnering with five area grocery distribution centers, the Food Center receives about 200,000 pounds of food, which otherwise may have been trashed. Such food is salvaged because it is unmarketable due to store overstocking, rapidly approaching expiration dates or damaged packaging, conditions in no way affecting the safety or quality of the food.
In 2015 the Food Center distributed 260 tons of food to the local community (27,000+ sacks of groceries), which helped 7,200 adults and 3,500 children. But this could not have been accomplished without the dedicated team of volunteers who sack groceries, sort food, stock shelves, interview and serve clients and unload trucks.
Hunger relief for most Texans comes from food stamps, through school lunch and breakfast programs and through senior nutrition programs such as Meals on Wheels. But for critical needs they reach out to the Food Center. It benefits from big food drives such as that held by postal workers in May, but it is too often forgotten that hunger is an ongoing challenge throughout the year. It has been said that “ending hunger in America is a goal that is literally within our grasp.” To stop the hunger and start the hoping, volunteer or donate to the Denton Community Food Center at www.dentoncfc.org.