Author name: Jody Reynolds

Dear friends, So many things defined 2023. While we faced rising costs and natural disasters, your generous support allowed us to continue providing our neighbors with access to food during difficult times. Together, we continued alleviating hunger in the Texas Panhandle despite the challenges we faced. Rising costs continued to affect neighbors and families across the Texas Panhandle. Food costs remained at record highs with signs of a steady increase. We received more requests for food assistance than ever before. We served an average of 21,612 neighbors and 11,192 families each month – a 4 percent increase from the previous year. Likewise, increased food, fuel, and maintenance costs are affecting our budget. We anticipate at least a 20 percent increase in maintenance costs and a 10 percent increase in fuel costs. Last year also brought unforeseen challenges when multiple natural disasters struck the Texas Panhandle. After Memorial Day, widespread flooding wreaked havoc on local homes and businesses. HPFB responded to the flooding in Hereford and Amarillo with emergency food, water, and resources. Shortly after, the disastrous tornado struck Perryton, and HPFB responded immediately with over 1,000 emergency food boxes and ten pallets of water. After the initial response, HPFB continues to work with the impacted communities on long-term recovery efforts. HPFB has even received pass-through funding to help our partner food pantries rebuild, expand capacity, and receive additional food for long-term recovery. Despite the challenges, 2023 presented several highlights: Distributed over 2.01 million pounds of fresh produce Received three new box trucks through a grant to increase our retail store food rescue capacity Distributed food to over 2,072 seniors each month through our senior food box program – while anticipating an increase in 2024 Completed our new administrative building at 8th and Ross Street in Amarillo HPFB remains committed to our mission to alleviate hunger in the Texas Panhandle. This year we plan to: Begin the research and planning stage for an on-site food assistance center at HPFB! Increase our fresh produce and protein distribution by 5 percent Leverage technology to help increase distribution and reporting for all our partner sites Further increase our capacity for food pick-ups and distributions with five new trucks While many challenges lie ahead, your support will help us continue providing our neighbors access to healthy food. For every $1 you donate, we can distribute about nine meals! Thank you for helping us provide food and hope to our neighbors facing food insecurity. Sincerely, Zack Wilson Executive Director 2023 Annual Report

Today is the perfect day for something warm and hearty to get us through another cold winter day. Here\’s a recipe for \’Pioneer Beef Stew\’ provided by one of our Board Members, Denise Blanchard, for our Empty Bowls event last year. Make your own adjustments and enjoy being in the kitchen making a delicious healthy meal for your family. Prep: 15 Minutes Cook: 1 Hour Serves: 6 Ingredients: 1lb. Boneless stew meat* ¼ cup all-purpose flour 2 Tbsp olive oil 3 cups beef broth 3oz Tomato paste 1 onion 4 garlic cloves lib potatoes 3 carrots 1 cup frozen peas 1 whole bay leaf ¾ tsp dried thyme ¾ tsp dried rosemary 1 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce Cracked pepper to taste Instructions: Cut beef into bite-sized chunks. Toss beef in flour until well coated. Heat olive oil in a large pot, medium heat. Place half the beef chunks in, cook until golden brown. Remove from pot and add next half until golden brown. Try not to stir beef while cooking, as it takes longer. While beef is browning, chop the onion into wedges and mince garlic. After the beef is browned, remove the beef. Add onion and garlic to pot and saute for 2-3 minutes. If the bottom of the pot starts to look dark, add beef broth immediately, onions and garlic don\’t need to be cooked all the way. Add tomato paste and beef broth to the pot. Stir pot until beef bits have dissolved off the bottom. Add all beef back in, then add bay leaf, thyme, rosemary & pepper and stir. Place lid on the pot, allow it to come to a simmer. Once it reaches simmer, cover with lid and allow to simmer for 30 minutes. Simmer is when it stops bubbling. While pot is simmering, peel and slice carrots. Wash and cut potatoes into¾\” cubes. Once the pot has simmered for 30 minutes, add carrots, potatoes, and peas and simmer for another 15-20 minutes. Stir in Worcestershire sauce. Taste the stew and adjust salt and pepper if needed.