HISD, Houston Food Bank plan second large-scale community food distribution at NRG on Saturday

The Houston Independent School District is partnering with the Houston Food Bank to organize a second mass food distribution site on Saturday, April 25 from 4 to 7 p.m. at NRG Stadium.

Distribution will be held in the NRG yellow lot, and attendees must enter via the yellow lot main entrance off South Main Street. The site is expected to distribute 5,000 food packages — each weighing 80 to 100 pounds — in about three hours. That’s the equivalent of roughly half a million pounds of food.

HISD’s first mass community distribution site was held last Saturday and distributed more than 280,000 pounds of food to 4,256 cars and 450 families on foot.

“Many of our families were already food insecure, and this pandemic has done nothing but intensify that issue,” said HISD Interim Superintendent Dr. Grenita Lathan, who attended the first massive food distribution. “These are unprecedented times, but one thing is clear — our families need help, and we’re going to be there for them.”

Unlike HISD’s weekday sites, the Saturday distribution is specifically created to accommodate Houston’s working families, many of whom are unable to visit HISD-sponsored distribution sites during the week.

Nutrition Services will use its standard food distribution model to ensure the health and safety of volunteers, employees, and the public. Workers will minimize contact with families by placing food in their trunks. Those who walk to the site must adhere to strict social distancing guidelines. There are no forms to fill out.

To ensure families are served efficiently, the public is asked to not impede the flow of traffic.

“Schools are more than just centers for education, they are the heart of every community, with strong connections and relationships with students and families,” Houston Food Bank President and CEO Brian Greene said. “Houston Food Bank is working with HISD to supplement their efforts to ensure children who rely on school meals are still receiving access to nutritious food during this unprecedented time.”

In addition to HISD and the Houston Food Bank, the Houston Texans also have pitched in, working to secure the distribution location at no cost to HISD or the Houston Food Bank.