Yesterday, I had the pleasure of getting out in our territory and seeing one of our rural agencies.  Loaves and Fishes is a ministry in McLean Texas.  It's about 75 miles east I-40 from Amarillo.  Vonnie Bible, is the director of Loaves and Fishes, her agency is run out of an old home in the heart of the city.  I walked in with Edna, the Agency Relations Coordinator for the Food Bank, and we were greeted with excitement.  Vonnie was so excited to show us all the updates they has just made to the agency.  New tile in the kitchen, and expanded storage.  She got excited to share with us that a new freezer would be coming this weekend.

That might now sound as exciting to you as it does to me, but let me explains what expanding your capacity does.  It allows you to store more food.  When you live in the isolation of the rural Panhandle towns, it's important to build your capacity as much as you can.  This is especially true for the residents of McLean Texas.  Why, you ask?  Because, like many rural areas, it's considered to be a food desert.  This means there is not a local grocery store, only convenience, stores.  Sure, there is a grocery store just 20 miles away, but if you are struggling to put food on the table, you probably don't have gas money.  

As you can see, the hunger problem in The Panhandle, is comprised of several problems unique to each community.  This is why we work through agencies.  They know what the problems are in their area, and what's great is they are constantly innovating the way they service their clients.  

We encouraged Vonnie.  She is a hero.  She might not wear a cape, but she is literally saving lives everyday.