Ricardo B. Brazziell AMERICAN-STATESMAN 1/27/12 Joseph and Army Sgt. Sandy Cornet register at the Killeen Food Care pantry on Friday, Morning Jan. 27, 2012

Close your eyes, and think of the first image of what a hungry person in Central Texas looks like. Is it a homeless man holding a sign on the side of the highway? Is it a woman standing in line at a food pantry? Is it a child in an after school program?

All of those images are correct. But let’s add one more image to that scene that probably doesn’t come to mind – a soldier.

This weekend, the Austin-American Statesman ran a feature story on Fort Hood military families struggling with the same issues as many working poor Americans. In addition to low-pay, these families often struggle with the emotional toll of serious injuries, long deployments, death and adjusting to post-deployment life.

The Fort Hood area in Bell County is part of the Capital Area Food Bank’s service territory. In addition to distributing food through the Wheels of Sharing Mobile Food Pantry in Bartlett, CAFB provides food and grocery products to 22 Partner Agencies in Bell County. In partnership with Target’s Meals for Minds Program and Communities in Schools, CAFB brings families together at East Ward elementary school in Killeen each month for a fun-filled evening of educational activities, a hot nutritious meal and to receive nutritious food to prepare at home.

A family receives a hot dinner at the Target Meals for Minds in Killeen

Your support ensures that the men and women risking their lives to serve our nation have one less thing to worry about – ensuring their family has enough food on the table. Thank you for helping us serve those who help keep us safe.

Read the Austin-American Statesman story.

View the Austin-American Statesman story slideshow.

In a new partnership with Target, CAFB is bringing the Meals for Minds program to two high-need elementary schools in our service area. This program brings families together each month for a fun-filled evening of educational activities, a hot nutritious meal, and to receive nutritious food to prepare at home.

“The Food Bank is excited about this innovative new program, and the difference it will make in the lives of the children and the families it will serve,” said Hank Perret, CAFB president & CEO.

The first event, held on February 17 at East Ward elementary school in Killeen, was a tremendous success.  The theme of the evening was “Love your Libraries” and families got to enjoy fun reading themed activities facilitated by teachers dressed as Clifford the big red dog, Stewart Little and Snow White and other popular storybook characters.  After a spaghetti dinner, CAFB’s “Wheels of Sharing” Mobile Food Pantry, staffed with volunteers from Target, distributed food to the participants.  Eighty-two households were served an average of 54 pounds of healthy food per family.

Pickle Elementary in Austin premiered the Meals for Minds program on March 3.  This was a science themed event, with interactive presentations and demonstrations on scientific principals following a spaghetti dinner including a side salad.  Target volunteers were again on hand to volunteer with the “Wheels of Sharing” Mobile Food Pantry distribution. One hundred twenty-three households received an average of 56 pounds of nutritious food per family.

A recent study by Share Our Strength reveals that hunger in the classroom is an ongoing problem and it’s getting worse; nearly two-thirds of K-8 teachers say that children are coming to school hungry because they are not getting enough food at home.

The Meals for Minds program will run through the end of this school year and next, with a third school to be added at a later date.