The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints delivered its third major food donation of 2025 to High Plains Food Bank on Wednesday, June 25, providing urgently needed shelf-stable goods as hunger levels reach record highs across the Texas Panhandle.
The latest half truckload included pantry staples such as pasta, pancake mix, pinto beans and dry milk — versatile items that food bank officials say will quickly reach families facing food insecurity.
“These products are produced and packaged by the church and distributed wherever the need is — not just for our members, but for the whole community,” said Brock Blaser, stake president of the Amarillo Texas Stake of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. “We’re honored to be part of this effort.”
Blaser said the church operates farms, processing plants and distribution centers worldwide, all focused on providing relief and living out its mission to follow the example of Jesus Christ.
“If he were here, he would be reaching out to the poor and the needy,” he said. “That’s what we’re trying to do.”
High Plains Food Bank Director of Development Tina Brolin said the donation couldn’t have come at a better time. Summer always brings heightened need as children lose access to school meals, but this year’s demand is compounded by federal supply chain disruptions and declining donations.
“Our partners at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints are absolutely critical right now,” Brolin said. “We’ve had federal shipments canceled and overall donations have slowed — so this food will be distributed almost immediately.”
According to the food bank, the items in this delivery alone will help provide more than 10,000 meals to families across the region.
This marks the church’s third major donation to the Amarillo-based food bank this year. The long-standing partnership also includes regular volunteer efforts and community support.
“This relationship predates my time here, but in the six years I’ve been with the food bank, it’s only grown stronger,” Brolin said. “They’ve become more than partners — they’re friends we can count on.”
The donation supports the food bank’s “Fill the Gap” campaign, launched earlier this year in response to canceled federal food shipments. As of this week, the campaign had raised more than $200,000 of its $250,000 goal.
“We’ve got about $50,000 left to raise,” Brolin said. “And this donation helps us bridge that gap while continuing to serve our neighbors.”
Blaser said the church’s humanitarian reach extends across all 50 states and into global relief efforts, with agricultural operations in places like Garden City, Kansas, and South Paducah, Utah.
“For us, it’s not about borders or governments — it’s about people,” he said. “We’re grateful to be able to meet needs right here in our own community.”
High Plains Food Bank continues to seek support from donors and volunteers to meet increasing demand. For more information or to get involved, visit hpfb.org.
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