The Houston Food Bank

COMMUNITY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM - COMMUNITY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM HOUSTON FOOD BANK'S COMMUNITY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (CAP), EDUCATES THE COMMUNITY ABOUT AVAILABLE SOCIAL SERVICES AND STATE-FUNDED PROGRAMS. THROUGH CERTIFIED COMMUNITY RESOURCE NAVIGATORS, CAP PROVIDES APPLICATION AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE FOR THE FOLLOWING BENEFITS: SNAP (SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM), MEDICAID, TANF (TEMPORARY ASSISTANCE FOR NEEDY FAMILIES), AND CHIP (CHILDREN'S HEALTH INSURANCE PROGRAM). THE HOUSTON FOOD BANK CAN ASSIST IN SUBMITTING THOSE APPLICATIONS ELECTRONICALLY TO THE STATE. CAP ALSO OFFERS THE REFERRAL PARTNER PROGRAM TO ASSIST WITH ADDITIONAL RESOURCES OUTSIDE OF STATE BENEFITS, INCLUDING RENT AND UTILITY ASSISTANCE, AND CONNECTIONS TO LOCAL PANTRIES AND FOOD DISTRIBUTIONS. SERVICES ARE AVAILABLE IN ENGLISH, SPANISH, AND VIETNAMESE. IN FY23 18,309,097 MEALS WERE ACCESSED THROUGH CAP ASSISTANCE. NUTRITION EDUCATION THE HOUSTON FOOD BANK OFFERS FREE NUTRITION EDUCATION PROGRAMMING IN ENGLISH AND SPANISH TO ADDRESS FOOD INSECURITY, TO PROMOTE GOOD NUTRITION HABITS FOR BETTER HEALTH, AND TO REDUCE RISK OF DISEASES SUCH AS DIABETES. CLASSES IN NUTRITION, FOOD SAFETY, MEAL PREPARATION, AND BUDGETING ARE TAUGHT IN COLLABORATION WITH FOOD BANK PARTNER AGENCIES BY HOUSTON FOOD BANK'S TEAM OF REGISTERED DIETICIANS AND NUTRITIONISTS. THESE CLASSES REVOLVE AROUND HEALTHY EATING TIPS BASED ON THE USDA MYPLATE AND DIETARY GUIDELINES FOR AMERICANS. EACH CLASS INCLUDES THE CREATION OF A RECIPE HIGHLIGHTING THE MATERIAL OF THE CLASS. LAST YEAR, 523 CLASSES WERE PROVIDED BY HFB'S NUTRITION EDUCATION PROGRAM; 6,765 INDIVIDUALS AND 395 PARTNERS PARTICIPATED. CLASSES ARE OFFERED VIRTUALLY AND IN-PERSON TO HFB PARTNERS, COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, AND SCHOOLS. SENIOR BOX THE SENIOR BOX PROGRAM ALSO KNOWN AS THE COMMODITY SUPPLEMENTAL FOOD PROGRAM (CSFP) IS A FEDERALLY-FUNDED NATIONAL FOOD DISTRIBUTION EFFORT FROM THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE (USDA) THAT IS DESIGNED TO IMPROVE THE HEALTH AND NUTRITION OF INCOME-ELIGIBLE SENIORS (60+). THROUGH THIS PROGRAM SENIORS RECEIVE A BOX OF NON-PERISHABLE FOOD (VALUED AT APPROXIMATELY $50) EACH MONTH, WHICH HELPS STRETCH THEIR AVAILABLE GROCERY DOLLARS. THE SENIOR BOX PROGRAM IS CURRENTLY SERVING OVER 10,069 SENIORS EACH MONTH.