Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Food Security topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Food Bank of Delaware outlines rising demand, workforce and training programs and Hispanic outreach
Summary
Representatives from the Food Bank of Delaware told the committee demand for food assistance has remained high since the pandemic, outlined training and employment programs, and described targeted Hispanic outreach and a cost‑sharing approach with partner agencies.
The Food Bank of Delaware presented program and distribution data to Wilmington City Council’s Health, Environmental, Aging and Disabilities Committee and asked the council to consider partnership and advocacy to sustain food assistance across the city.
Kathy Kaniewski, president and CEO, said hunger remains a persistent problem in the state: “1 in 8 Delawareans is food insecure,” a figure the Food Bank presented as a statewide estimate. She said 1 in 5 children in Delaware are food insecure and noted the organization had prepared a packet for council showing services within city limits.
Chad Robinson, vice president of external affairs, described the Food Bank’s dual focus on “food for today and food for tomorrow” — immediate food distribution and workforce, training and benefits-enrollment programs that aim to reduce long‑term need. Robinson and Kaniewski highlighted culinary training, warehouse logistics programs and a specialized culinary training program for people with intellectual disabilities. The Food Bank said it also conducts benefits outreach and “Stand By Me” financial coaching.
Melissa Lopez, community outreach lead for Hispanic communities, said the Food Bank conducts outreach, translations and phone‑based SNAP application assistance to reduce language and transportation barriers. She and Kaniewski noted a recent decrease in some Hispanic community participation at local distributions and attributed it in part to fear among immigrant communities; the Food Bank said it is increasing targeted outreach, including Spanish‑language radio, and mobile pantry work.
Kaniewski said food distribution increased sharply during the COVID pandemic and has not returned to pre‑pandemic levels, while donations have not recovered; the Food Bank now purchases more food than at nearly any prior time in its history. She described a shift to a 50% cost‑sharing model for some partner agencies (partners pay half the purchase cost for selected items) and said the organization is working with municipalities and funders to sustain mobile pantries and partner operations. A mobile pantry serving roughly 100 people was cited as costing about $2,500.
Council members thanked the Food Bank for its programs and for workforce development offerings. Kaniewski provided packet materials and asked council members to contact the Food Bank for volunteer opportunities, partnership and advocacy to maintain assistance levels and partner capacity.
