Houston Food Bank Targets 100,000 Volunteers in 2026

Houston Food Bank, the largest food bank in the Feeding America network, announced in early April 2026 that it is aiming to engage 100,000 volunteers this year — a new record for an organization that already ran one of the country's biggest hunger-relief operations in 2025. Last year, 94,000 volunteers contributed hundreds of thousands of hours packing, sorting and distributing food across 18 counties in southeast Texas.

CEO Brian Greene said demand for food assistance has remained stubbornly high, driven by elevated housing costs and the lingering effects of recent storms. To meet that need, the food bank has expanded its 308,000-square-foot Portwall Street distribution center, deepened partnerships with more than 1,500 pantries and schools, and created new volunteer shifts that accommodate families, companies and first-time helpers alike.

“Last year, 94,000 volunteers contributed hundreds of thousands of hours packing, sorting and distributing food across 18 counties in southeast Texas.”

Volunteers pack shelf-stable boxes for seniors and children, glean fresh produce from farms and grocery stores, drive trucks to remote distribution sites, and help run weekend events. Houston Food Bank emphasizes that even a single shift makes a measurable difference: each hour contributed typically translates into dozens of meals reaching a neighbor in need. The organization's online portal allows individuals, faith groups and corporate teams to sign up for shifts ranging from two hours to full days.

The push for 100,000 volunteers is also about community, not just logistics. Greene notes that volunteering builds relationships and breaks stereotypes about who needs help, reminding Houstonians that hunger is often hidden next door. If the goal is met, Houston Food Bank will have mobilized one of the largest anti-hunger volunteer forces of any U.S. city in a single year.