I will never go to their food bank ever again, even if it's held at a different location. Haven't been there in a few months in Rio Grande, but for as long as I was going up until then, it was always from 10 to 12... Went there today around 11:45.. I saw a guy at the back of the truck raising a pallet of something in there. I pull up near him and a girl walks over. I said, "You guys are ending a little early aren't you?" She said, "Oh no, we're actually done for the day." I replied, "Really? Because any time I've ever come here it was 10 to 12." She was like no you need to get here earlier... Then I looked at the pallet of juice that wasn't quite yet on the truck, and the boxes of goods they had sitting on a pallet on the ground within 20 feet away. I said, "And you can't even give me a case of juice and one of those boxes?" She once again said, "No sorry, we're done for the day." Wow. I was so disgusted I didn't even say anything, not even ok thank you. I just gave her a disappointing look and turned around and left... First of all, what in the world does being done have to do with giving me a box that's sitting right there on the ground?? Secondly, as far as I'm concerned they were "done" early. I still had 15 minutes left. If they went and changed their hours of their food truck at that location then obviously I didn't know if I haven't been there now did I. You can't even call Customer Service and get a live person on the phone for general questions anymore, so how was I supposed to know?? If they're really supposed to be done before 12 now, she should've said they'd make an exception this one time, and given me a fr*gin box. What's the big deal?? I have never, in my life, went to a food pantry where I was turned down. Even if they were done, even if everything was already packed away. They've all always made sure I left with something. And here these people actually had stuff.. sitting right there.. and they still sent me away empty-handed!!! How disgraceful. They should be ashamed of themselves!! They're there to help people, and they did the very opposite with me. Not only will I never go to their food bank ever again, but I will tell everyone I know who goes there what they did to me, as well as everyone who takes the time to read their reviews...
Wow - I wrote this second review because the first one is pretty much exactly the opposite of how I feel. The FoodBank is VERY well-managed - when you go to volunteer, they immediately put you to work and you'll work hard. When you leave, you'll be amazed at how much your group accomplished in two short hours. The staff is well-informed, friendly, and always helps volunteers, always says thank you. In addition to collecting, sorting an distributing food, the FoodBank trains jobless in food service careers, provides school supplies to teachers whose students don't have basic supplies, and works with social agencies to provide children's clothing. Those are just SOME of the ways they fight poverty - I highly recommend visiting their website to learn more about their other programs, and visiting their warehouse to volunteer so you can see everything that they do, firsthand. I have volunteered there for several years, bringing a group to the warehouse monthly. I don't know all of their political leanings, nor do I care - I just know they help thousands of people.
Not well managed. Doesn't do anything to fight poverty. Distributes food to hungry and poor. A Republican strong hold and social conservate enlistment.
Review from CharityNavigator