MIDLAND, TX (KWES) - The West Texas Food Bank opened their second new facility this year, this time in Midland.
The Odessa and Midland facilities cost collectively $13.3 million.
"We looked at food banks all across the country and they have all kinds of programs and educational opportunities for their community," said Libby Campbell, Executive Director.
The Midland Volunteer and Community Center Food Bank includes a processing rooms, a pantry, but will also serve as a way to teach the community about healthy food choices and gardening.
"If you want to have chickens in your backyard or if you want to know about aquaponics so you can have fish poo to help you grow your garden, all those things, you now have a place here that you can come do that," said Campbell.
The facility also features two greenhouses, a traditional and one underground. The Permian Basin Master Gardeners will use the space to educate school children and the public.
"Teaching them early how to conserve and then importantly, how to use compost, how recycle products and then how to plant and grow their own products," said greenhouse specialist, Carl White.
The food bank also features a demonstration kitchen for cooking classes.
The client choice food pantry will be used to distribute emergency food to at risk, low-income senior citizens.
