An Expanded Fleet
With its new vehicles , NTFB is distributing an additional 2.4 million meals annually .
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It ’ s just after 8 a . m . but driver Jose Zuniga is already well into his day . He arrived at NTFB ’ s warehouse at 5 a . m ., along with the other drivers , and loaded up a longhaul semi-trailer with food for delivery to multiple partner agencies . Throughout his days , he and the other drivers also pick up food donations from retailers , all in the name of serving their neighbors . Says dispatch coordinator Joe Crawford , “ We love helping people .”
Jose and the other drivers spent the bulk of this fiscal year driving the new fleet NTFB purchased with the use of The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 ( ARPA ) funds , replacing the previous fleet that was leased and allowing NTFB to distribute an additional 2.4 million meals each year at the same cost due to the increased efficiency . “ Our new fleet of vehicles provides the North Texas Food Bank with the tools we need to help close the hunger gap in North Texas and provide children , adults , and seniors a hunger-free future ,” Trisha Cunningham said , speaking during a February event celebrating the new fleet . “ We are so grateful for the generous and critical support the community provides to further our mission .”
The new fleet includes 12 Model 579 long-haul semi-trucks , eight Model 548 refrigerated box trucks , 11 53-foot refrigerated trailers , four Container Pantries , four Produce Pods and the SNAP Mobile , which is an office on wheels that allows NTFB staff to assist neighbors in rural communities with SNAP application assistance .
Annual Report 2024