Posted by Staff
newsweb@everythinglubbock.com

LUBBOCK, TX (PRESS RELEASE) –Breedlove Foods, Inc., a Lubbock-based humanitarian relief organization working to end domestic and international hunger through nutrient-dense and innovative food blends, is excited to partner with First United Methodist Church (FUMC) of Lubbock. The goal of the program is to provide food to underserved families through the South Plains Food Bank (SPFB) and Lubbock ISD. The first day of food distribution is Monday, June 1st at 10am at the FUMC Outreach Center located at 13th Street and Avenue O. 

SPFB food vouchers are given out to families every week. Along with these vouchers, a bag of nutritious, dehydrated food will be given. FUMC screens clients to determine eligibility. Then, it issues 25 vouchers per week to be redeemed for food boxes from the SPFB. Each pre-made food box will supplement groceries for a family of four and under for two weeks. The program operates every Monday in the Outreach Center at FUMC from 9:45 am to 11:30 am.

“First United Methodist Church is very excited to partner with Breedlove Foods, Inc. to extend our local outreach efforts. In fact, 1 in 4 children in Lubbock are food insecure. Also, enrollment in the LISD Free and Reduced Lunch program is 29,000,” said Allison McGough, Director of Missions and Outreach at First United Methodist Church. “To know that we are helping children in need makes the program even more special.”

Many children only have consistent meals during school. Bayless Elementary is one of seven Lubbock ISD schools open all summer to feed children breakfast and lunch. FUMC is assisting Bayless Elementary and the Texas Hunger Initiative to publicize the availability of meals.

“A free or reduced lunch is provided to LISD students during the school year, but a child going hungry during the summer break is a great concern of ours.,” David Hankins, Director of Communications for Breedlove Foods, Inc., said.  “The Summer Feeding Program allows kids to not have to worry where their next meal will come from. It helps ease their minds.”

The Summer Feeding Program begins Monday, June 1st and extends all the way through mid-August.

ABOUT BREEDLOVE FOODS
Breedlove Foods is the only commercial-sized non-profit processor of food in the United States. The first production run at Breedlove was made in October 1994 with the dehydration of potatoes.  Soon after, they began dehydrating a variety of vegetables and through this technology were able to successful developed numerous food blends.  Today, a variety of blends include dehydrated vegetables, lentils, potatoes, and rice.  Each blend has their own specialty uses and can be made into creative and tasty dishes such as red beans and rice, casseroles, soups, and other dishes.  Special care is taken to accommodate cultural differences around the world, and each blend is kosher and halal certified. Over the years, Breedlove has stayed committed to transforming lives through hope and encouragement by partnering globally to provide nutritious food to the world’s most vulnerable. Since 2010, they have distributed more than 1.02 billion servings of food globally. Their food blends are used in hunger relief programs in over 80 countries.  For more information or to make a donation, visit their website at www.breedlove.org.

ABOUT FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
First United Methodist Church (FUMC) is a well-known church in the area. Opening in Lubbock in 1892, FUMC has overcome obstacles to become the thriving church that it is today. Local and global outreach efforts are a major focus for the church.  FUMC focuses on helping underserved populations by programs that focus on feeding the hungry, providing resources and mentors to some of the most disadvantaged kids in the Lubbock Independent School District and by providing humanitarian efforts to the U.S. and abroad. For more information or to join an outreach program, visit their website at www.fumc.com.

(Press release from Breedlove Foods, Inc.)