Taft Food Bank

Taft Food Pantry is a ministry of the Reaching Our Neighbors Charitable Foundation (RONCF), a 501c3 in Portland, Texas.  RONCF provides oversight and accounting services for Taft Food Pantry.

The Need for Taft Food Bank

• The poverty level of children attending Taft ISD is 98%. 

• The pandemic highlighted the need for food assistance for our San Patricio County neighbors. 

• Taft Food Pantry continues to serve neighbors from all areas of the county. 

• In 2024 the pantry provided food to 25,247 persons, and is on track to exceed that number in 2025. Detailed demographic information is reported to the Coastal Bend Food Bank and available. 

• The only grocery to serve Taft closed in 2023, and was converted to an Ace Hardware Store. ​

Our supporters 

• Wesley Nurse Megan Skrobarcek supports the pantry, and helped coordinate a donation of $2500 from MHM.

• The Coastal Bend Food Bank in Corpus Christi provided a grant of $22,239.00 in 2024, and $7,494.00 in 2025, a reduction of 66% year over year.  

• The City of Taft leases the building for the Taft Food Pantry for $1 annually.  In addition, the City of Taft pays the electrical bill for the pantry building. 

• Numerous private donors donate to the pantry. 

• Women & Men Health Services provide a mobile medical RV several months of the year.

• The pantry volunteers pick up expiring shelf-life food items every Monday and Saturday from HEB markets in Sinton, and Portland. 

• Every Thursday, volunteers pick up expiring shelf-life items from Target in Portland. 

• The Dollar General Stores in Portland, Sinton, and Taft donate periodically. 

Most of these donations are distributed the same day, and or the same week in which they are received. In addition, pantry volunteers deliver food to 45 neighbors who do not have transportation, or are disabled and cannot drive. 

• In 2024, volunteers donated 8,800 hours of volunteer work at the pantry. 

• An average of 22 volunteers fill a variety of roles including food pickup, delivery, data reporting, and client interviews. 

 

The pantry’s greatest need is a replacement vehicle for the 2001 model pantry van which has 200,000 miles on it. 

The pantry spent approximately $1,100 on fuel to pick up the donations, $400.00 for vehicle insurance, $141.00 for vehicle registration, and $400 for oil changes, tires, and minor repairs.  Other expenses include cleaning, custodial and sanitation services, of approximately $80 per month.