El Paso food bank to close Friday due to storm damage

UPDATE: EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- El Pasoans Fighting Hunger will close its on-site distribution on Friday due to storm damage.

The food bank says severe weather on Thursday caused major damage to its offices and warehouse.

"For an organization that takes pride in showing up for the community, this is a heartbreaking interruption," the organization said in a statement. "Every distribution day, neighbors arrive counting on the food they will bring home. They are parents trying to stretch a paycheck, older adults living on fixed incomes, and families working hard to make ends meet. For them, a trip to the food bank is an essential part of getting through the week."

EPFH is asking people to follow its social media channels for updates on when food distribution will resume.

ORIGINAL STORY

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- Tuesday's heavy rain damaged El Pasoans Fighting Hunger Food Bank, according to a news release. Wednesday, the food bank asked for volunteers to help repair canopies and its main sign.

EPFH said the rain damaged two of its mercado canopies and forced food distribution to close at 2 p.m. Some neighbors went home empty-handed.

"What you see on the outside is one thing, but there are other conditions on the inside too; this is an older building and we also have some roof challenges. We have water coming in; there are a lot of things that we have to just kind of come out of hiding to fix," said interim CEO Kris Yagel. "We don't have a lot of extra money lying around."

The building's front entrance shut down as a precaution due to its sign needing to be removed.

"Canopies, signage, and facility upkeep may not be the first things people associate with hunger relief, but they are part of maintaining a welcoming, functional place for neighbors to turn," the food bank said in a statement.

"This is very hard to predict a year in advance when we do our yearly budget, so we don't necessarily budget for weather instances like this." "That means we have to find the money somewhere, so that will come out of our our operating budget that we use to get food and we use for transportation and to keep the lights on and things like that," interim CEO Yagel said.

The food bank said it's welcoming volunteers who can help with repairs and removing the sign.

"We're here on the front lines, but we're going to solve this as a community; maybe it's time and maybe if you feel encouraged to join us at this time, maybe give us a donation, come out and volunteer, support us in any way you can, and together we'll meet the needs of the community," interim CEO Yagel added.

EPFH reported the damage at its location at 9541 Plaza Cir.

You can also donate to the food bank here.