TEXAS AIR NATIONAL GUARDSMEN FROM THE 136TH AIRLIFT WING HELP FACILITATE A FOOD RUN AT DICKIES STADIUM IN FORT WORTH TEXAS JUNE 24, 2020. THEIR MISSION INCLUDES UNLOADING PALETTES OF FOOD, DIRECTING VEHICLE TRAFFIC, AND LOADING CARS WITH FAMILY FOOD BOXES.TARRANT AREA FOOD BANK, CEO JULIE BUTNER, TELLS US THE GOAL OF GIVING BACK TO THE LOCAL COMMUNITY.

“This is an emergency box line, the boxes were packed by the 136th Air National Guard. We’re planning on feeding anywhere between 1,000 to 2,000 families today. In an emergency box we try to give families enough staples to last a day, two days, three days. Depending on what we receive. We receive the food from the USDA and also from local grocers and manufactures in the area. So sometimes, we’re at the will of whatever’s being donated to us but we really try to think strategically about the box, what were putting in it, and trying to make it last for a family of four for a couple of days.”

THE THREE VARIETIES OF BOXES INCLUDE FRESH PRODUCE, SHELF STABLE ITEMS AND FROZEN GOODS. TARRENT AREA FOOD BANK, AGENCY SERVICES COORDINATOR, TIFFANY TRAYLOR AND DIRECTOR OF MAJOR GIFTS, MEGAN SMOCK, SHARE HOW ALL ITEMS ARE DESIGNED TO GIVE FAMILIES A VARIETY OF FOOD.

“This is one of our shelf stable boxes so we have a lot of product that would be able to be kept on a shelf. The families get typically one box, it's good for a family of four. If you have a larger family then you're able to get more."

"This is a good hardy box of protein for our clients today. It has a five pound bag of chicken and then four frozen meals that they can use throughout the week or the month. it's nice that its frozen because it'll keep for however long they need it. This is a great distribution because they're getting such a variety of food today, it's not just protein, not just veggies, not just canned food. So it'll last them for a long time."

EACH FOOD RUN IS DESIGNED TO SERVE RESIDENTS IN THE DFW AREA WHO ARE IN NEED OF FOOD ASSISTANCE OR WHOSE ACCESS TO HEALTHY FOOD HAS BEEN AFFECTED. GUARDSMEN CONTINUE TO WORK WITH LOCAL PARTNERS TO REDUCE THE IMPACT OF COVID-19

REPORTING FROM FORT WORTH FOR THE TEXAS MILITARY DEPARTMENT, I’M AIRMEN FIRST CLASS CHARISSA MENKEN.