San Antonians in the mood to give had a worthy place to direct their energy on December 13: the Frost Bank and CultureMap donation drop-off, benefiting the San Antonio Food Bank.
During the two-hour event, bag after bag of packaged food items — that SAFB will use to help serve 58,000 food-insecure individuals a week — were handed over at the Frost Bank on West Grayson Street. A large amount of pet items were also collected, and those who donated received a few surprises in return.
Each person who donated more than five items received a $10 Frost It Forward card to continue spreading optimism. And local influencer San Antonio Stephanie even stopped by, passing along her Frost It Forward card to someone in need.
This generous gesture from Frost Bank echoed the Optimism Starts With You mural by Los Otros, which was located directly across from the drop-off point in the Pearl District.
Those who attended the donation drive-through also got a head start on entering the social media contest by snapping a selfie by the mural and using #OptForOptimism to enter.
If you'd like a shot at winning the ultimate staycation package — a one-night stay with valet at Hotel Valencia on the Riverwalk and two drinks in Dorrego's Bar (a $532 value), plus four tickets to the Briscoe Western Art Museum and a $200 gift card to use at Pearl — there's still time. Get your post up before December 31, when we'll pick one lucky winner.
The items received from the event — all 1,006 pounds of them — are more important than ever to the San Antonio Food Bank, which not only fights hunger but also serves to educate and provide assistance in many other ways.
Since its founding in 1980 as Texas' first food bank, SAFB has worked to give more than 7.7 million free meals annually. It partners with more than 500 nonprofit agencies throughout 16 counties in Southwest Texas, rescuing 63 million pounds of food (or the equivalent of a semi-trailer full of food every hour).
Texas is ranked second in the nation for food insecurity, with 1 in 6 living in food-insecure homes. These populations are impacted significantly by fluctuations in the economy and changes in work hours, like those that have happened during the pandemic. Donations like the ones received here make a huge impact for people looking to break the poverty cycle.
If you missed the event but would still like to contribute to the San Antonio Food Bank's important mission, please make a donation this holiday season.
