Texas Department of Agriculture Awards More Than $8.5 Million to Home-Delivered Providers Feeding Hungry Texans (2/7/2012)
AUSTIN — Agriculture Commissioner Todd Staples announced today the Texas Department of Agriculture is awarding more than $8.5 million to agencies that serve meals to homebound elderly and disabled Texans. The grants are provided through TDA’s Texans Feeding Texans: Home-Delivered Meal Grant Program.
“Home-delivered meals are critical to the health and well-being of fellow Texans who would go hungry without this food,” Commissioner Staples said. “This funding will allow meal providers to continue their mission of fighting hunger in Texas, and I am proud to support such an honorable and necessary initiative.”
The Texans Feeding Texans: Home-Delivered Meal Grant Program was created during the 80th Legislative Session in 2007 to give supplemental funding to home-delivered meal providers. The grants, based partly on the number of meals served by eligible applicants the year prior to applying, can only be used to supplement and expand existing services related to the delivery of meals.
Interfaith Ministries for Greater Houston is receiving more than $1.5 million.
“The TDA funds are truly a lifesaver,” said Elliot Gershenson, president and CEO of Interfaith Ministries for Greater Houston. “By leveraging TDA funds with other government and private funding, IM has increased the number of seniors served from about 3,000 clients to well over 4,500 each weekday. It is a privilege to help keep so many seniors in their own homes, and a sacred duty that we are proud to share with the Texas Department of Agriculture.”
“By providing food to elderly residents in their own homes, we help maintain their independence, which saves Texans more than $37,000 in tax dollars annually per individual served,” Commissioner Staples said. “I want to thank the legislators who approved this critical funding that enables us to assist Texans who need a helping hand.”
TDA will award 188 grants totaling more than $8.5 million to home-delivered meal providers across the state that served more than 13 million meals statewide last year. Over the five-year life of this program, TDA has awarded nearly $50 million to these organizations.
For a complete list of recipients, click here.
