The North Texas Food Bank (NTFB) hosted an event at the Plano Perot Family Campus on November 5 to recognize the Nihao Food Bank Initiative’s sponsorship of a food distribution truck through the holidays. The Nihao Food Bank Initiative has provided more than 550,000 meals over the last year.
A press release from the NTFB announced that the Nihao Food Bank Initiative was to be recognized for its outstanding work in the North Texas community with the recent peanut butter drive. Nihao was named the top community group for raising funds and collecting peanut butter. The organization raised $25,876 and donated over 5,000 pounds of peanut butter.
The Nihao Food Bank Initiative is a Chinese American, volunteer-driven grassroots movement, set to raise awareness about hunger in North Texas, improve community engagement among Chinese Americans and direct resources toward NTFB to fight hunger.
“We are so grateful for the support of organizations like Nihao that recognize the growing issue of hunger and look for innovative ways to contribute to the organizations addressing this complex problem,” NTFB President and CEO Trisha Cunningham said in an official statement. “In just a short time they have made a significant impact in our mission of hunger relief and are mentoring the next generation of community leaders through their Youth Ambassadors program.”
Nihao launches in May 2021. Since then, it has engaged over 475 members, raised more than $183,000 and volunteered 2,100 hours helping at NTFB’s warehouse, fundraising and community events. Nihao has also started a Youth Ambassadors program with 96 high school students who volunteer and fundraise for the organization regularly.
“We are excited to unveil the Nihao truck co-branded with North Texas Food Bank,” Co-Founder Bing Xie said. “This traveling billboard will highlight how the Chinese American community is partnering with NTFB to provide access to nutritious food for the more than 700,000 people facing hunger in North Texas and serves as a visual reminder of what community groups can do in the fight against hunger when they come together to make an impact.”
