b'Once delivered to NTFB, it is sorted, kits packed by volunteerschildren were among the first initiatives and have been expanded into specific packaging for certain groups, stored in warehousesover time.Food 4 Kids program, for example, started in 2004 of varying temperatures, loaded on trucks, and distributed toand provides weekend food for kids who are at risk for being sites in 13 counties.Nothing is unaccounted for.Very little foodchronically hungry.Some initiatives are less formal: Teachers is lost due to spoilage. are aware of which students arrive in class hungry. A snack bar EfficiencyandachievementhaveearnedtheNorthTexascan be quietly placed in a childs backpack, says Erica.Food Bank numerous awards and a 4-Star rating with CharityDeliveringfoodtotheruralareasturnsintoanimprovised Navigator.94% of each $1.00 donated to NTFB goes directly toFarmers Market:there are usually lots of people waiting for the hunger relief programs. truck to arrive.Fresh produce and other food are unloaded and As we walk through the warehouses, Erica points to a large bindistributed.People gather and get to know each other in the full of pop tarts and pastries.All donated food is distributed process.Our trucks create community, Erica says.even processed food and sweets. Each $1.00 provides 3 nutritiousNTFBhasmostrecentlyfocusedonthehungerissuewithin meals:processed foods are not part of this calculation.Theteen and college-age populations.Recent data reveals that in focus has always been on the importance of nutrition.Each day,Collin County alone, 20% of kids are food insecure and 18,000 NTFB provides 190,000 nutritious meals for hungry children,of them are teenagers.The teen audience is difficult to measure senior citizens, and families. because they are still living within a family unit and are more Collaborationwithotherorganizationsandvolunteersarelikely to disclose personal issues to peers than to adults.Recently, both keys to NTFBs success:The warehouse is staffed daily bythestudentsofJohnPaulIIHighSchoolsSocialInnovation multiple volunteer groups, including older adults, communityLab (SIL) interviewed teens within Dallas and Collin Counties organizations,corporatevolunteers,andschoolchildren,who are affected by food insecurity to learn how best to address working together assembling meal packages, including disasterthe problem.Teens speaking to teens produces better insight relief kits through a program developed with the Salvation Army,into sensitive topics.As a result of the students findings, two Volunteer Now, and the Red Cross.prototypes have been developed which are in test-market phase NTFBsupportscommunitygardensandnutritioneducation.now.These SIL students are one of only four schools to be invited There is a working garden immediately outside the NTFB buildingto present their findings and prototypes at the Global ConferenceJans Garden, named for former CEO Jan Pruitt, who guidedin Rome in November 2019.the NTFB for many years and is credited with growing NTFB intoNTFB sponsors the Youth Advocate Council, comprised of area one of the best-known and regarded non-profit entities in Texas.high school students who are interested in finding out about Planning for future needs, Erica is spearheading an endowmentthe hunger issue, volunteering their time, and learning how to initiative.This initiative is important because of the fluctuationsadvocateforfoodsecurityamongtheirpeersandacrossthe in demand caused by federal government shutdowns, weather- wider community.For more information and the application for relatedshortages,andchangesingovernmentfunding.Athis program, visit ntfb.org.financial safety net to cover the peak demand periods is importantThe NTFBs mission is to close the hunger gap in North Texas so there is no interruption in services. by providing nutritious food. They believe nourished people Food insecurity has historically been greatest within the mostcreate communities that flourish and thrive. Size matters:the vulnerablegroups:childrenandtheelderly.Familieshavehunger problem is huge, growing, and critically importantit become a focus as financial distress can disrupt the entire familycrosses all demographic groups and directly connects with so unit.Programs to feed low-income senior citizens and at-riskmany other community issues:health, housing, poverty, job loss. NTFB supports community gardens and nutrition education. JansEach day, the NTFB and its feeding network provides access to more Garden, named for former CEO Jan Pruitt, is located immediatelythan 200,000 meals for hungry children, seniors and families. To outside the NTFB building. learn how you can help go to NTFB.org. GoodLifeFamilyMag.comNOVEMBER | DECEMBER 2019 55'