Dear friends,

As we look back on 2022, we saw new challenges and new opportunities.

As COVID began to decrease, we saw another emerging trend that become concerning: the rising costs of living. Food costs, fuel costs and general supply costs affected us all. However, it also forced so many individuals to ask for help for the first time. This, coupled with folks still struggling with the economic impact of COVID, drove the number of families served to an average of 16,900 per month.

Effects of the supply chain and rising costs also affected HPFB. We saw maintenance costs increase along with the general costs of operating a warehouse, trucks and equipment. The rising costs also affected our ability to secure the number of food loads we expected. Unfortunately, this is a trend that is projected to stay with us for awhile.

As I mentioned above, we also saw many new opportunities. In 2022, we:

• Distributed over 2.1 million pounds in fresh produce (up 31 percent from the previous year).
• Increased the number of summer meal service sites in public parks in Amarillo and Canyon.
• Ordered 5 new trucks to help with our incoming food donations, rural food service distributions, and senior food distributions.
• Distributed food to more than 2,072 seniors each month through our senior food box program.

Despite the challenges we face, HPFB is still committed to our mission to alleviate hunger in the Texas Panhandle. In 2023, we will:

• Complete our new administrative building (located one block north of our warehouse).
• Begin the research and planning stage for opening a food assistance center on-site at HPFB!
• Increase our fresh produce and protein distribution by 5 percent.
• Leverage technology to help increase distribution and reporting at all our partner sites.
• Add five new trucks to our fleet to help increase our food pick-ups and distributions.

While there are still many challenges ahead, your continued support will help us continue providing food, resources, and hope to neighbors facing food insecurity. Thank you very much for helping fight hunger. For every $1 you give, we’re able to provide 14 meals to neighbors – local kids, seniors, and families – facing food insecurity.

Sincerely,

Zack Wilson

Executive Director