Every semester, SIFE joins with the High Plains Food Bank, in an effort to help families in need.

This project benefits families of low economical resources by providing food in the 29 counties of the Texas Panhandle.

Marco Jimenez, SIFE marketing leader for the Food Bank Project, said that the organization is helping the food drive in three different ways.

The first one is through the collection of non-perishable food.  The High Plains Food Bank distributes an average of 375, 000 – 400,000 pounds of food per month. SIFE contributes every semester by collecting food in the WTAMU community.

“The best way to help is through the collection of food,” he said. “Our goal this semester is 5,000 pounds.”

SIFE’s Chief Operating Officer, Karina Linardy said that the deadline to turn in cans is in April.

“We are already 2,000 pounds,” she said.

Another way in which SIFE helps with the “High Plains Food Bank” is by assisting and helping organize the garden that the “Food Bank” has in Amarillo.

SIFE also supports the “Kids Café Program”. Through this program, the “Food Bank” serves more than 750 meals to children at risk.

Linardy explains that SIFE members go every Friday to San Jacinto and Monday-Friday to Maverick.

“We help serve food and interact with kids to be like role models,” she said.

In addition, the organization started a nutrition program in Maverick that takes place every Friday.

“We teach them how to eat and live healthy,” Linardy said.

SIFE is currently in the process of collecting the 3,000 pounds left to meet their goal for the collection of food.  Jimenez said that students can help by depositing non-perishable food in the SIFE room located in the Classroom Center room 301.