Local Hero FOOD NON-PROFIT Finalists
And the finalists for your favorite FOOD NON-PROFIT are the Houston Food Bank, Plant-it-Forward and Second Servings - all dedicated to giving back to our community! Read about these terrific organizations and CAST YOUR VOTE for your favorite.
Plant It Forward is a nonprofit organization that works in Houston to provide refugees with the tools, training, and business skills needed to start and grow their own urban farm businesses. Plant It Forward farms 6.5 acres across 4 locations in Houston working with 9 refugee farmers, and plans to grow in 2017! Customers can access Plant It Forward produce through its Farm Share program, or by purchasing at local Farm Stands and Farmers Markets.
Website: Plant-It-Forward.org
Facebook: PlantItForwardFarms
Second Servings is Houston’s only prepared food rescue organization. We pick up surplus unserved food from caterers, hotels, manufacturers, and other regulated food businesses and deliver it the same day to 18 approved charity meal sites (shelters, soup kitchens, and low-income housing.) Our wholesome, chef-prepared food reaches over 5,000 people every week, including abused women and children, at-risk youth, adults in rehab, the homeless, veterans, and low-income single adults. In our first 22 months, we’ve rescued nearly 300,000 pounds of food…food that was destined for the landfill, but is now feeding people.
Website: www.SecondServingsHouston.org
Facebook: SecondServingsHouston
The Houston Food Bank is a solution to both hunger and food waste. America’s largest and nationally recognized as Feeding America’s Food Bank of the Year in 2015, the Food Bank distributes 79 million nutritious meals through its network of 600 food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters and other hunger relief charities in southeast Texas, feeding 800,000 individuals each year. Fresh produce, meat and nonperishables are distributed from the warehouse at 535 Portwall, and meals for kids are prepared and distributed from Keegan Center, a 15,000 square-foot industrial kitchen. We rescue food before it reaches the landfill through our Retail Pickup program with area grocery stores. Additional community services include nutrition education, school-based programs, and food stamp application assistance. Red Barrels offer a convenient way for grocery shoppers to donate nonperishables for their neighbors in need. The Houston Food Bank, founded in 1982, is a certified member of Feeding America, the nation’s food bank network, with a four-star rating from Charity Navigator.
Website: HoustonFoodBank.org
Facebook: TheHoustonFoodBank
Twitter: @houstonfoodbank HoustonFoodBank
Snapchat: @houstonfoodbank
