MIDLAND, TX (KWES) - Following the West Texas Food Bank's involvement in Hurricane Harvey relief, they are launching an area first, The Disaster Response Mobile Pantry.
The mobile pantry will serve the 19 counties of the West Texas Food Bank, and will be on-call and available to other areas in the state should an emergency or disaster arise.
Designed and built in San Antonio by famed food truck fabricator Cruising Kitchens, the Disaster Response Mobile Pantry is, for now, one of a kind.
During times when it is not required to be of service in an emergency or disaster, the Mobile Pantry will help the West Texas Food Bank reach areas which are under-served.
"This project will help the West Texas Food Bank reach its goal of distributing over one million pounds of fresh produce this year. The Mobile Pantry is also going to be such an asset for disaster response in the state. Of course, we hope to never be called out to a disaster, but we are on the ready should one arise," West Texas Food Bank Executive Director Libby Campbell said.
The mobile pantry was made possible by a grant from Occidental Petroleum and additional funding from Feeding Texas.
"Occidental is proud to support the communities where we operate here in the Permian Basin. And we are particularly honored to have the opportunity to partner with the West Texas Food Bank to make this mobile pantry a reality. This versatile custom-made vehicle will be utilized to not only assist in disaster relief but help guarantee that many men, women and children will not go hungry in our under-served areas," Occidental Petroleum's President and General Manager for Permian Resources Midland Basin Mark Grommesh stated.
The WTFB will hold a ribbon cutting ceremony and dedication of the Disaster Response Mobile Pantry Wednesday at Occidental Petroleum.
