Often, for chefs, culinary students or enthusiasts of local cuisine, it becomes easy to get caught up in the world of enjoying lavish food. Regrettably, this mindset can lead us to forget that food is, for many people, something far simpler than a treat or something to be enjoyed. For those who live in poverty, food represents only sustenance and can often be a cause of great stress and anxiety. Luckily, there are organizations like the Texas Food Bank that are dedicated to looking after the less fortunate and providing them with nourishing meals for their families. Perhaps even luckier still, is the presence of socially conscious organizations willing to contribute to these efforts.
On Aug. 25, the Texas Food Bank announced a partnership with BHP Billiton, one of the world’s leading diversified resource companies, for support of two of its programs. All in all, BHP Billiton will pledge an incredible gift of $650,000 to the Texas Food Bank. Half a million dollars of that figure will be earmarked for the “Build Today – Feed Tomorrow” initiative the food bank is running to expand its facilities and programs. The remaining $150,000 will be put towards a Reeve County program called Food 2 Kids. Food 2 Kids provides meals for children, distributed on weekends, who school personnel believe may be at high risk of going hungry.
Robert Manelis, the general manager of BHP Billiton’s Permian Basin operations, indicated to the Midland Reporter Telegram that giving back to the community is near the top of his company’s priorities.
“One of our core values at BHP Billiton is sustainability in the communities we serve,” said Manelis. “Key to this region’s sustainability is confronting hunger, particularly among children and the elderly.”
