Parker County comes together to fight hunger at mobile food event

Parker County residents made their way in their to the parking lot of Weatherford High School and stopped at a distribution station while volunteers placed food into their cars.

The Tarrant County Food Bank West hosted a mobile food distribution Thursday morning at Weatherford High School. The event, which started at 9 a.m., had already served almost 200 individuals within 47 minutes of being open.

“Thanks to our amazing volunteers we have been able to move people through so quickly,” said Steve Martin, regional director of Tarrant County Food Bank West.

Martin has been running the West facility in Weatherford for four years and has enjoyed helping those who visit the for food assistance. “You see firsthand how food insecurity really affects people and we get help brighten their day,” he said.

Planning this mobile distribution began months in advance with the staff deciding that the high school was a great location, since it had used it before. The Weatherford school district offered the use of the high school’s parking lot for free.

After securing the space, organizers coordinated the delivery of food and physical setup, which took under an hour. “We set up in about 45 minutes and then we were ready to go,” said Martin.

Volunteers came from all of the community, including city employees, educators and families. Marie Hernandez, who serves as the assistant superintendent for the Weatherford school district, brought her children along to help. “Just seeing that families and kiddos have what they need is why I volunteered,” she said.

City of Weatherford employees also showed up to support the effort. “It makes you feel good,” said Travis Moore, who volunteered alongside co-workers for the city’s electric department. “It’s just a small way to give back and it helps families especially with grocery prices so high.”

Summer break can be tough on family budgets. To help out, the mobile food distribution event gave much-needed support to local families. TAFB West works to fight hunger every day of the year, so no one—no child, individual, or family—has to go without food.