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Meals on the go


Food trucked in for 537 families

Julye Keeble

Staff writer

With many local families facing food insecurity or scarcity during the coronavirus pandemic, the San Antonio Food Bank in conjunction with the Uvalde Food Pantry held a mobile food distribution Saturday that served 537 families.

Tru Hiatt with the Uvalde Food Pantry said each distribution consisted of more than 50 pounds of food, and in total more than 20,467 pounds of food was distributed.

Hiatt said Uvalde Food Pantry representatives brought bread products from local stores to add to the food trucked in from San Antonio.

The distribution, intended to assist Uvalde County residents, was held starting at 10 a.m. at the Willie De Leon Civic Center.

Volunteers gathered information from participants as they waited in their cars, then loaded in the food.

Uvalde City Manager Vince DiPiazza said the plan was to line cars up on Nopal Street to First Street to bring them into the civic center from the north, allowing for up to two allotments per vehicle.

Uvalde Police Department officers helped coordinate and control traffic for the event, which was a bit congested due to people arriving early to ensure a place in line.

UPD Chief Daniel Rodriguez said when officers arrived, there was a double line of vehicles from the entrance to the civic center off of East Nopal Street back to First Street, and a single line from First Street and Nopal Street back to Fifth Street. 

He said the line extended from Fifth Street and wrapped around Laurel Street back towards Fourth Street; then around East Oak Street all the way back to Wood Street. 

“From what I understand, cars were lined up as early as 6 a.m. and the distribution wasn’t scheduled to start until 10 a.m.,” Rodrigues said.

He said several cars lining up off Second, Third and Fourth Street had to be instructed to go to the end of the line, and once officers started clearing the congested traffic, they got the vehicles lined up and the distribution proceeded smoothly.

“I don’t think we have ever had a food distribution of this scale. We are truly grateful for the San Antonio Food Bank for all the donations to our community,” Rodriguez said.

He noted that it was very difficult when officers had to turn people away due to limited supplies.

“One thing I would like to try and coordinate for next time, is to have deliveries made to people that can’t drive, such as the elderly or disabled,” Rodriguez said, noting that volunteers, local officials and both the local and regional food banks worked hard to coordinate the event.

To obtain food assistance from the San Antonio Food Bank, you may contact them Monday-Friday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 210-431-8326 or visit their website at www.safoodbank.org.

Local distribution

The Uvalde Food Pantry serves up to 500 families locally, but due to pandemic protocols it has not been open for normal distributions. According to Hiatt, they are working to plan a food distribution in approximately two weeks, similar to one the food pantry held in conjunction with the City of Uvalde on March 28.

In that instance, no registration was required, and no walk up clients were accepted. Each vehicle received the same amount of food, and participants were asked to remain inside their vehicles at all times.

jkeeble@ulnnow.com, 830-278-3335

Meghann Garcia|Leader-NewsNumerous volunteers work in tandem to distribute fresh produce, yogurt and other food items to Uvalde County residents who lined up on numerous city blocks. The distribution took place Saturday morning in the parking lot of the Willie De Leon Civic Center.

Meghann Garcia|Leader-NewsNumerous volunteers work in tandem to distribute fresh produce, yogurt and other food items to Uvalde County residents who lined up on numerous city blocks. The distribution took place Saturday morning in the parking lot of the Willie De Leon Civic Center.

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