Partner agencies combating local food insecurity, especially among college students, recently got help in the form of a $1.25 million gift from local philanthropist Harvey Najim.
Officials from the Najim Charitable Foundation, San Antonio Food Bank and the University of Texas at San Antonio gathered at the main UTSA campus last week to announce the gift. According to a press release, $125,000 will be donated to the food bank every year for 10 years.
The food bank provides millions of pounds of food to more than 500 charitable organizations around Southwest Texas, including UTSA, University of the Incarnate Word, Alamo Colleges District and Baptist University of the Americas. Students at those campuses can access food at an on-site pantry or a pop-up market.
“I know the food bank will maximize my impact with their efficiencies which will in turn create a learning environment where all UTSA students have enough food to thrive and graduate,” Najim said in the release.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture defines food insecurity as a lack of consistent access to enough food for every person in a household to live an active, healthy life.