SAN BENITO — If Forest Rodriguez-Walker knows someone needs food, she won’t let them go hungry.
As the president of the San Benito Food Pantry, Forest has dedicated most of her life to helping feed those in need.
In an effort to educate the public on her work, Forest put the spotlight on the pantry during the San Benito Chamber of Commerce’s weekly “Morning Coffee” session yesterday.
Forest, a San Benito native, spends seven days a week working at the pantry.
When the pantry opened in 1991 it served about 50 families.
Today, Walker said, the pantry serves about 5,000 clients a month in the San Benito and surrounding areas.
“We’re going strong and we have many volunteers,” she said.
The food is supplied by the Food Bank Rio Grande Valley and through various donations.
On Wednesdays, the food is packed and distributed to the many clients in need.
“We’re all aware of the people in San Benito and the surrounding areas who seek help from the San Benito Food Pantry on a monthly basis,” Walker said.
In addition to food donations, the pantry also takes monetary donations. Walker said monetary donations are important because the pantry can purchase food at a more reasonable price from the Valley pantry.
The pantry also relies heavily on volunteer involvement and is always seeking help from willing volunteers.
“We’re so blessed. They work very hard,” she said.
The pantry, which is considered one of the largest in the area, consists of 11 freezers but it also is considered the smallest location.
As active members of the Retired Seniors Volunteer program, the pantry was awarded in March for the work they do in the community.
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• The Food Bank RGV serves Hidalgo, Cameron and Willacy counties. On average, it helps feed up to 42,000 people on a weekly basis via 250 partner agencies.
• The Food Bank RGV is the largest regional charity in South Texas.
• Nearly half of the children in the RGV live at or below the federal poverty level.
• Food insecurity has fluctuated between 1 in 5 and 1 in 7 households in the past three years.
• Food insecurity is a fluid state where some time during the calendar year; a family has had to juggle between paying housing, medical or other bills and buying food for their family.
• It is common for families to pay all their bills only to find very little left for nutritious meals.
To send money, write a check to the San Benito Food Pantry and send it to P.O. BOX 1246. Food and monetary donations are also accepted at the pantry, located at 160 E. Stenger.
