By Kim Hilsenbeck.
Giving a buck or two at a local grocery store to the food bank should mean the money stays local. But that’s not always what happens, as donations to the local H-E-B stores show.
And that has created some consternation for some local residents and volunteers with the Hays County Food Bank (HCFB) and its partner agencies. They presumed that money donated in Hays County would go to the HCFB. But that’s not the case for donations from the Kyle and Dripping Springs H-E-Bs.
The HCFB, founded in 1982, is the county’s main provider of supplemental food to those in need. In 2012, the food bank distributed nearly 600,000 pounds of food to Hays County residents, according to its website.
| At top, Little Guys Movers transported boxed turkey meals to the Performing Arts Center last year so Hays CISD maintenance staff could help food bank volunteers unload and distribute to students’ families who were identified by school counselors as needing assistance. (Courtesy photo) |
Partner agencies in Hays include the Hays-Caldwell Women’s Center, the Crisis Bread Basket in Wimberley, the Buda United Methodist Church food pantry and Southside Community Center.
Where does HCFB get its food?
Several sources are involved.
The HCFB is an affiliate partner of the Capital Area Food Bank (CAFB) in Austin, which serves a 21-county region under its designation by Feeding America, a national nonprofit that coordinates food distribution to more than 200 food banks nationwide.
In 2013, HCFB purchased 7,323 lbs. of food from CAFB – down significantly from 2009 when it purchased more than 18,000 lbs. In 2011, the Hays County organization purchased about 4,500 lbs. of food from the CAFB. HCFB purchases food from the CAFB at $.12 on the dollar. Those purchases account for about $800,000 from among the more than 300 partner agencies that help fund CAFB operations.
The decline from five years ago, according to HCFB Executive Director Jerry Gracy, is a direct result of more donations from Hays County residents and less need to rely as much on the Austin food bank.
But the Hays food bank also receives direct donations of food and funds from individuals and Hays-based companies.
One of CAFB and the HCFB’s most valuable partners is H-E-B, a firm well known for its community partnerships and corporate philanthropy. The Texas-based firm delivered more than 26 million pounds of food and nonperishables worth more than $41.6 million last year alone to food banks across the state and in Mexico.
H-E-B donates meats, produce, breads and more that are in the waning days of freshness dates. In addition, the retailer sponsors the Souper Bowl of Caring and the Tackling Hunger food drives each year. Customers can buy a pre-packaged bag of food and/or make a monetary donation at the checkout counter using tear-off coupons in pre-set amounts.
But how much of your local donations stay in Hays County?
The answer is not clear-cut.
Two H-E-B stores in San Marcos donate directly to the Hays County Food Bank, including point-of-sale tear-off cash donations.
But the H-E-B Plus in Kyle, according to HCFB staff, now donates much of its food and monetary contributions – to the tune of about $44,000 – from customers to CAFB. That wasn’t always the case.
Why the change?
While not confirmed, some food bank board members believe H-E-B corporate changed its policy in deference to the CAFB’s wishes.
While both food banks have mission statements to feed/nourish hungry people and end hunger, the CAFB may wield more negotiating power than HCFB.
The Austin group is certainly more formidable: more than 22 million lbs. of food donated in 2012 and 29 million in 2013 to more than 300,000 clients. CAFB also has a staff of 75 and engages the services of a public relations firm in Houston.
But with 20 other counties and multiple H-E-B stores from which to draw, why does CAFB want the Kyle store’s resources?
The Dripping Springs H-E-B also donates food and funds to the CAFB, not Hays County. In part, however, HCFB employees say it’s because their agency doesn’t have the staff or resources to go pick up the food from that far away.
Dripping Springs resident Carrie Isaac recently wrote a letter to the editor of the News-Dispatch, owned by the same company that publishes the Hays Free Press, to bring the issue to light that locally donated funds and food are not necessarily distributed within the county.
How do Hays County residents react to learning their local donations don’t stay local?
Hays Free Press Facebook commenter Janice Morris wrote, “I will look to make my donations elsewhere ... I would really like for the items/money I donate to stay local!”
To make a donation directly to the Hays County Food Bank, drop off or mail a check to: 220 Herndon, San Marcos, TX 78666, donate online at www.haysfoodbank.org, or donate at one of the San Marcos H-E-B stores.
