The food bank gets a helping hand this holiday season

The food bank feeds more than 58,000 people a week

SAN ANTONIO – The San Antonio community stepped up to help those in need. The San Antonio Food Bank took in a delivery of 75 semi-trucks bringing in some 3 million pounds of food on Thursday.

"It is very heartwarming to know that we've got a great community that steps up and makes it happen for us at the Food Bank so we can deliver for those families in need," said Eric Cooper, president and CEO of the San Antonio Food Bank.

The need for volunteers is great. It takes a large number of folks to package the food and ship it to families around town.

Those volunteers come from all walks of life.  Thursday a group from NeuroRestorative, a day treatment center for adults who have suffered a brain injury took time to help. Alongside them were volunteers from Arch of San Antonio, the organization that helps individuals with disabilities.

"The Food Bank is an excellent place for us because not only do we get to help the community but we get to help ourselves," said Hilary Guillen with NeuroRestorative.

For patients the process of bagging the groceries is very therapeutic for those suffering from a brain injury. They use cognitive thinking and it becomes part of their occupational and physical therapy.

"For physical therapy it's balance and endurance, standing, reaching, moving," Guillen said.

Most of all it is helping neighbors. The food bank feeds more than 58,000 people a week.


About the Author:

David Sears, a native San Antonian, has been at KSAT for more than 20 years.