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Food banks play a vital role in communities, distributing millions of pounds of produce, nonperishables, and other staple items every year to some of society鈥檚 most vulnerable people, including children, seniors, and those living in poverty. In this way, food banks are instrumental in fighting not only hunger but also , defined as the condition of consistently lacking access to the nutrition one needs to live a healthy and active life.
That鈥檚 why Copenhagen is proud to team up once again with five local food banks in Arizona and Texas 鈥� , the , the , the , and 鈥� for the fourth annual 5&5 Charity Food Drive. By donating 5% of gross sales to local food banks, as well as offering a 5% discount* to customers who donate 5 nonperishable food items or $25 to a participating food bank, we hope to raise $50,000 to fight hunger in our communities.
But did you know food banks offer a wealth of amazing programs beyond food distribution? To raise awareness of the incredible work our food banks do, we鈥檇 like to spotlight six lesser-known ways food banks uplift our communities and help individuals to live healthier, more secure, and more fulfilling lives.
For instance, St. Mary鈥檚 Food Bank in Phoenix offers the , a free 9-week program providing hands-on training for the culinary field. Individuals are encouraged to apply if they are interested in working in food service and are facing at least one significant barrier to employment. At the end of the program, graduates of the Community Kitchen are qualified to work as a prep cook, line cook, or dishwasher. St. Mary鈥檚 aims to make this program as accessible and effective as possible and offers sessions starting every three weeks, as well as job placement support after graduation.
Indeed, food bank culinary programs often provide not only skills directly related to cooking 鈥� like meal preparation, equipment operation, knife usage, and food safety 鈥� but they also teach relevant auxiliary skills that can give students a competitive edge in the industry. For instance, the San Antonio Food Bank鈥檚 teaches professional recipe writing, pricing, and menu design and development, in addition to the basics of food prep. Students in the Central Texas Food Bank鈥檚 learn complementary lessons in financial literacy, resume building, and interview skills.
Uniquely, some food banks, like and the , also offer warehouse and logistics training programs. For example, the (Logistics, Inventory, Forklift Training) program at St. Mary鈥檚 Food Bank is a free 6-week course that aims to give individuals with barriers to employment 鈥渁 second chance in life by providing all the skills necessary to be successful in the warehouse and logistics industry.鈥� Students gain knowledge of topics like forklift operation, materials handling, warehouse safety, supply chain logistics, and quality control. The course also teaches life skills such as anger/stress management, communication, and financial literacy.
Courses run by the and the teach community members the fundamentals of gardening and farming, as well as more in-depth skills. For instance, the Community Food Bank鈥檚 delve into a wide range of topics, from planting, water conservation, and composting; to beekeeping, raising chickens, and food justice. These courses are held at the Nuestra Tierra Learning Garden and Las Milpitas Community Farm and are free and open to all ages and experience levels. 鈥淕rowing your own food is more than just a way to reduce grocery costs and access healthy food,鈥� the Community Food Bank website states, 鈥淚t鈥檚 a way to connect with the land, connect with your roots, and connect with community.鈥�
At the Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona, a dedicated team integrates nutrition education into the food distribution process, via live cooking demos or recipe cards for quick and healthy meals. They also offer a program called , which pairs local parents with food bank facilitators on guided grocery tours. During the tours, they learn to 鈥渟hop for affordable produce, identify whole grains, read nutrition labels, and compare unit prices to make the best choices for their families.鈥�
Similarly, the San Antonio Food Bank also provides for food-insecure populations. Taught by qualified professionals like registered dietitians, certified chefs, public health workers, and master gardeners, the classes cover topics like healthy eating habits, prevention of chronic diseases, and ways to adopt a physically active lifestyle.
The and are just two food banks that offer one-on-one help to community members wanting to apply for SNAP (formerly known as Food Stamps), which offers extra money for groceries each month to individuals who meet income requirements. These two food banks can also assist with applying to other government benefits programs like Medicaid, CHIP, TANF, and Healthy Texas Women.
For example, the advocates at the federal, state, and local levels in support of policies that fight food insecurity. Their list of goals at the federal level includes everything from 鈥渆ncouraging Congress to pass meaningful legislation to improve and expand child nutrition programs鈥� to 鈥渋ncreasing support for veterans and military families to eliminate food insecurity among those who serve and have served our country.鈥�
The San Antonio Food Bank website declares, 鈥淣o family should have to choose between putting food on the table and caring for their beloved companions.鈥� Their unique serve to fight hunger among pets and promote the well-being of companion animals in the community. Partnering with the organization DaisyCares, the San Antonio Food Bank distributes pet food to anyone in need of it and works with pet stores and manufacturers to acquire pet food donations. SAFB and DaisyCares also have a collaborative program named , described as 鈥渁n innovative online rehabilitation education program for individuals cited for animal neglect cases.鈥� PAWedu鈥檚 courses are designed to teach a more humane, empathetic, and responsible approach to animal guardianship.
Through food distribution and a wealth of auxiliary programs, food banks are dedicated to helping all community members access healthy food and a better way of life. Whether they鈥檙e offering culinary courses, gardening demos, or even education on responsible pet ownership, our local food banks go above and beyond to realize their vision of a society where no one goes to bed hungry, and everyone can thrive.
If you鈥檙e looking for ways to support your local food bank, consider participating in our 5&5 Charity Food Drive through April 6, 2025. Or visit the website of your nearest food bank 鈥� , the , , , or 鈥� to find more ways to contribute to the cause.