The partnership of the American Red Cross and the Harlingen Neighborhood Food Pantry is an example of helping at-risk communities to become better prepared to face any disaster that may come their way.

              For more than two decades, the Pantry has been a much-need lifeline for a Cameron County community dealing with a high poverty rates, chronic unemployment and a large number of residents facing food insecurity. Serving an average of 200 families a week, the Pantry champions critical nutritional health by distributing essential food, engaging in community outreach and education, and connecting families with resources that promote self-sufficiency. Through its Community Adaptation Program (CAP), designed to assist at-risk communities to better prepare for future disasters, the Red Cross has provided the Pantry with financial and volunteer support to help it better serve the Harlingen community.

              “We often say that the clients get the food, but we get the blessing,” said Wende Coffman, who with her husband Jim established the Pantry in 2001. “It is great to be able to serve the community and help our neighbors, and having the American Red Cross here has been absolutely awesome.”

              CAP was launched in 2020, at a time the nation was in the grip of the Covid pandemic. Red Cross officials came to the realization that there are certain communities that are vulnerable to disasters because of a variety of economic, geographic and social factors. Instead of having the Red Cross swoop into a community after a disaster strikes, CAP is designed to help these at-risk community better prepare and become more self-sustaining before a disaster strikes. Cameron County CAP Manager Hansel Ibarra says the idea is for the Red Cross to build critical relationships and develop critical resources before they are needed.

              “We are trying to develop relationships and investing funds into organizations such as the Harlingen Neighborhood Food Pantry so that they can take the lead when disaster strikes and we (the Red Cross) will serve in a supporting role,” Ibarra said. “I am out there in the community looking for local nonprofits, faith-based organizations and programs that deal with health, hunger and housing, and looking at how I can enhance those organizations.”

              Recently Red Cross volunteers joined with Pantry volunteers to help with the distribution of food to people in the Harlingen neighborhood. Through the generous contributions of food and money, the Pantry provides its clients with basic household staples and fresh produce, thus promoting healthy nutrition.

              “I want to thank the Harlingen Neighborhood Food Pantry for having us out here today to support what has become a great partnership,” said, Shawn Schulze, Red Cross Texas Gulf Coast Region CEO. “The Community Adaptation Program is just another way the Red Cross can fulfill its mission to prevent and alleviate human suffering in the face of emergencies by mobilizing the power of volunteers and the generosity of donors.”

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides comfort to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; distributes international humanitarian aid; and supports veterans, military members and their families. The Red Cross is a nonprofit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to deliver its mission. For more information about volunteering or contributing to the Red Cross’s mission, please call 1-800-RED-CROSS, visit redcross.org or CruzRojaAmericana.org, or follow us on X (Twitter) at @RedCross.

Story By: David Guth