The Houston Food Bank is the largest food bank in the country by the amount of food it distributes, a reflection of both Houston’s size as the fourth-largest US city and the depth of need across the region. It serves 18 counties of southeast Texas through a network of more than 1,600 partner agencies. Brian Greene has led it as President and CEO since 2005, a period in which distribution grew several times over. The headquarters is a large purpose-built facility at 535 Portwall Street.
The Houston Food Bank runs hunger relief at the largest scale in the country. From its Portwall Street facility it sources, stores, and distributes food across 18 southeast Texas counties, moving it through more than 1,600 partner agencies: pantries, soup kitchens, shelters, schools, and clinics. It also runs its own programs, including fresh-food distributions and services that connect clients to job training, health care, and benefits enrollment, on the view that hunger is rarely the only problem a family faces.
Brian Greene has been President and CEO since 2005 and is one of the most recognized figures in food banking. Under him the organization increased distribution several times over, navigated repeated hurricanes and the pandemic, and was named Feeding America Food Bank of the Year. He has also been recognized among the most influential nonprofit leaders in the country.
The 18-county service area covers Houston, Harris County, and a wide stretch of southeast Texas. The region combines a very large population with significant food insecurity, and it sits in hurricane territory, which means the Food Bank doubles as a disaster-response operation when storms hit the Gulf Coast.
Yes. The Houston Food Bank is a 501(c)(3) and a Feeding America member, and it is the network’s largest food bank by distribution. Its scale gives it strong buying power, so donations convert into a large number of meals. Donors can review its financials through Charity Navigator and GuideStar.
Donations and volunteer shifts run through houstonfoodbank.org. The Food Bank is one of the largest volunteer operations in the city, with sorting and packing shifts most days, and cash gifts stretch furthest because of bulk purchasing.
The Houston Food Bank is the largest in Texas and the country by pounds distributed. The North Texas Food Bank and Tarrant Area Food Bank cover the Dallas-Fort Worth metro, and the Central Texas and San Antonio food banks cover their regions. For anyone in greater Houston, this is the central organization.
1,600+ agencies across 18 counties receive food.
Job training, health, and benefits help alongside food.
Produce and kitchen-prepared meals, not just shelf-stable goods.
Major surge distribution when hurricanes hit the Gulf Coast.
Sources: Houston Food Bank website (houstonfoodbank.org), GuideStar and ProPublica (EIN 74-2181456), and Feeding America recognition of the organization. We are not affiliated with Houston Food Bank and receive no compensation for this listing. Spotted an error? [email protected]
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