The San Antonio Food Bank is Building a Community of Compassion
Urban farms, food distribution, and volunteerism go hand-in-hand
The holidays are when tradition dictates families gather around a bountiful table to share food and communion. The reality can be staggeringly difficult to imagine.
According to No Kid Hungry, nearly 14 million children in the United States live in "food insecure" homes. Although there are federally funded programs to help people in crisis, it’s simply not enough. Organizations and food banks are greatly needed to fill that gap and provide food to families in need, with most acting as agents to distribute food donated by restaurants and retailers.
In addition to traditional means, the San Antonio Food Bank grows fruits and vegetables on 25 acres of land at its own facility, and an additional 50 acres at the National Park Service’s Mission San Juan Capistrano, a World Heritage site. Most of the produce is distributed to the community, with a small portion sold at local farmers’ markets.
Eric Cooper, President and CEO of the San Antonio Food Bank, says the urban farms do more than just provide food — they offer a sense of community. He explains the farm is an opportunity for people from local schools, churches, and corporations to gather and help. “People can give time and experience the outdoors and the soil and the earth and connect with the food. They can ponder the plight of those who struggle and realize that the fruit of their work is how someone can eat. Everything is grown with lots of love.”
Cooper views the people who receive food from the food bank and the people who help as two parts of a whole — both are needed to serve the seventh largest city in the United States and its neighboring cities. “For me, the San Antonio Food Bank serves the entire community. We serve those with resources and those without.”
Cooper explains that most think of a food bank as a place to help people who need a hand. “We serve people who are going through a season of struggle. They are in a position where they are without sustenance.
The Food Bank executive says that volunteers get something equally valuable. “We engage people at their finest hour — when they’re sharing and caring. They’re living out the person they believe their God wants them to be. The person their mom wants them to be. When you can help someone reach their full potential of selflessness, there is something magical. The San Antonio Food Bank is where so much of that magic happens.
“I sit at that crossroads of those who have and those who don’t have. I get to witness the coming together where someone gives to someone in need,” says Cooper.
Cooper says the San Antonio Food Bank is building a community of compassion. “When you think about the nourishment of food — there’s power in it. We’re doing more than growing beautiful peppers. We’re growing a future of people who understand the importance of food and community and stewardship.”
During the holidays, the importance of food is regarded as even greater than mere sustenance. “We eat three meals a day and these meals nourish us, but during holidays such as Thanksgiving and Christmas, these ritualistic meals require special ingredients. These meals nourish more than the physical body — they nourish the spirit of hope and a promising tomorrow. For many of us, Thanksgiving holds sacred memories. For those that do without, it’s a reminder of hardships and sacrifices.”
For that reason, the San Antonio Food Bank provides several ways in which families can have a traditional holiday meal. “For the bulk of our meals, we will provide a turkey and several sides so that families will be able to prepare the meal at home in their own culture and gather at their table.” In addition, the food bank will prepare meals in its kitchen to deliver to seniors and will also offer food to shelters so that everyone can experience a Thanksgiving meal.
For many, the holiday season is about shopping and gifts — but the greatest gift you can give, according to Cooper, is your time. “I hope that Broken Palate readers become inspired, and with that inspiration, take action.”
The first step, according to Cooper, is to visit Feeding America. “At Feeding America, you can continue to learn about the issue of hunger in the United States and find your local food bank. You can choose to donate food, you can give monetarily, or you can choose to give time through volunteerism, which is the most precious gift you can give. You can also advocate by sharing a link to this story.”
To find out more about the San Antonio Food Bank’s work, visit safoodbank.org.