Our Mission
Fighting hunger and poverty with food, education, programs, and resources to families in a dignified, personal, and timely manner without zip code restrictions.
Our Vision
We aim to end hunger for North Texas families.
Our History
The Community Food Bank is in its 39th year of operation. It is a Texas non-profit corporation, is exempt under section 501(c)(3) and classified under section 509(a)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code. In 1982, local philanthropists, Mr. Arlen and Mrs. Helen Voldness started a soup kitchen called “Loaves & Fishes” that was located in the Beautiful Feet Church of Fort Worth, Texas. They soon realized the overwhelming need for food and soup kitchen. Their kitchen quickly became a food bank and moved into a larger facility that had been a lumber yard on Hemphill. As the need for food grew, a new location was gifted – an old beer distribution warehouse at 3200 Yuma in South Fort Worth. The name was changed to The Metroplex Food Bank to reflect its expanding client base.
The food bank successfully operated for many years until a devastating fire due to arson in 2006 resulted in the loss of the building. Though gutted, the food bank persevered with its mission to fight hunger. Donated food items were immediately distributed to a small list of clients and to partnering agencies. In September 2009, the food bank sold the Yuma location, changed its name to Community Food Bank. It moved to its current home at 3000 Galvez Avenue in May of 2010. With 39,585 square feet of office and warehouse space, 6,000 square feet of freezer space, and 6,000 square feet of cooler space, with the capability of utilizing up to 22,0000 square feet of cooler space, the Community Food Bank can provide fresh and frozen meats, produce, and dairy. Families receive good nutritious food!
The Voldness original mission of feeding the hungry was kept alive by past Board Chair Mrs. Opal Lee. Today, the Community Food Bank is governed by an active Board of Directors and is efficiently managed by Rudy and Regena Taylor. In addition to fighting hunger, by providing food as stated in the original mission, the organization is committed to providing education and resources to families, directly as a food pantry, and to other non-profit food pantries as a food bank.