E l Pa s oa n s F i g h t i n g H u n g e r
November/December, 2020
bring food in this community is astronomical.
nutritious, healthy food? How do the seniors
resources and the support of FEMA to
We had to quickly adjust our strategy and
maintain their cognitive abilities if they’re not
provide two months of food supplies.
purchase trucks and start running our own
getting adequate nutrition? It’s a workforce
fleet at an even higher level, so we can go
issue, it’s a healthcare issue, it’s an education
Additionally, they had to make sure they
and get those items.”
issue, and it’s an environmental issue as well
had enough help with daily labor to cover
as it is a humanitarian issue.”
the different pantries. For three months, 96 National Guard members were stationed
With a fleet of refrigerated trucks, including 12 tractor-trailers, they bring nutritious food
During the past seven months, Susan and the
here along with having continuous assistance
back into El Paso. Items include healthy frozen
team at El Pasoans Fighting Hunger have had
from Workforce Development and the Get
meats, fruits and vegetables, fresh dairy, and
to get creative to get the job done. One of
Shift Done program, which provides work for
canned and boxed goods. For too many of the
the strategies they began to look to was what
displaced restaurant workers.
people that they serve through the distribution
products became available with the closure of
centers, the only food they get is what they
the restaurants and cafeterias. They started
As CEO of such an extensive operation,
receive in a pre-loaded cart at the food bank.
bringing in yogurt in two-liter bags, designed
to Susan, this has meant a lot of different
Susan earnestly states, “If we aren’t able to
for a yogurt machine, logs of lunch meats
things. Located at the front of the building is
provide them a healthy mix of all the nutritional
intended to be sold at a deli, etc. Everything
her office, with large windows facing the line
items they need, then they can’t maintain a
was packaged for commercial use, but they
of individuals that are there, day in and day
healthy diet. Food is life. How do we raise
decided to continue to feed the community
out. “I see all of the people that come by, the
the next generation of leaders in this country
and get their hands on any nutritional food,
children, the elderly, the pregnant mothers
without the nutritional building blocks? How do
whether it was packaged for household use
… It is both a distressing and heartwarming
they learn in school, or concentrate if they’re
or not. For three months, this is how they
experience,” she expresses. “The stress
hungry? How do the working-age adults
fed the people of El Paso. The non-profit
has been colossal, but there has been an
perform at their jobs if they’re not getting
also turned towards available government
incredible amount of creativity to get through
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