LUBBOCK, Texas- More than 5,600 pounds of ground beef and close to 2,000 gallons of milk were handed out to families across the South Plains this week after a last-minute donation sparked a large community distribution effort.
The pop-up “protein market” took place over two days and was organized by Hillside Christian Church, the South Plains Food Bank, First Baptist Church, and Communities in Schools of the South Plains. Each family who drove through received four pounds of ground beef and two gallons of milk per child.
Christy Cage, program director for Communities in Schools, said the partnership directly supports their mission of removing barriers for students, including food insecurity.
“Our mission is surrounding students with a community of support so that they can achieve in life,” Cage said. “Food insecurity is one of those barriers, and that’s why we’re here today.”
Cage said families told her the donation would go a long way, especially heading into the holidays. Many planned to make meals like spaghetti or hamburger helper to stretch the four pounds of beef.
On the first day alone, volunteers served more than 240 families. One day two over a thousand families.
The donation came together quickly. Hillside Christian Church Pastor Brad Ingram said he received a call just days earlier about thousands of pounds of frozen beef available in the community. He immediately reached out to local partners.
“We said, ‘Hey, let’s get thousands of families meat and milk,’” Ingram said. “It may not be much, but we can definitely make a difference with that.”
All of the meat and milk distributed were locally sourced and remained within the community. Ingram said one family broke into tears when they received their box, moved by the unexpected support.
South Plains Food Bank COO Travis Johnson said his team helped provide trucks, drivers and the logistics needed to move the large donation quickly.
“They needed trucks and manpower and we’re the experts at doing food distribution, so we were just happy to fill that gap,” Johnson said.
Johnson, who helped hand out food both days, said the timing matters. With the holidays approaching, beef and milk are “staples in many households,” and the food bank wants families to know support is always available.
Cage said families who missed the event can still reach out for help.
“Reach out to your Communities in Schools site coordinator on your campus,” she said. “We’d love to get you the resources and help you need.”
Communities in Schools serves campuses across Lubbock ISD, Lubbock-Cooper, Frenship, Shallowater, Dimmitt, Hereford, Plainview, Amarillo and surrounding areas.