On the last day of campaigning before the March 2 Texas Primary, musician and humorist Kinky Friedman stopped by the North Texas Food Bank to say a few words, take a tour, and package some food for seniors in need.

Friedman, also a rancher, joined us on our PAN assembly line, preparing boxes of supplemental food to be delivered to seniors and other hungry people  in our 13-county service area. In 2000, NTFB became the first PAN distributor in Texas, and approximately 7500 people in our area recieve this assistance. Prepared from surplus USDA commodities, these 32-pound boxes of food are designed to supplement the food budgets of seniors, pregnant women, and children under age six.

While he was here, he was in true Kinky form! Dressed in his signature black suit and (unlit) cigar in mouth, Friedman toured our 72,000 warehouse with Chief Operating Officer Paul Wunderlich, all while asking questions about the 14 feeding and education programs that NTFB offers. He told Wunderlich, “Doing good is the best religion,” and proceded to the volunteer area.

A group of 13 volunteers from Mountain View Church of Christ joined Friedman on the PAN assembly line. They talked and joked, and Friedman answered their questions about his positions on the issues.

Wunderlich, who has been with the North Texas Food Bank since leaving the restaurant industry, mentioned that the Food Bank is “not political,” but always happy to have visits from political figures on either side of the fence.

Our friends from Channel 4, the Dallas Morning News, and Channel 11 came out to the Food Bank to see Kinky on this campaign stop. He spoke to the media about current proposals that would potentially cut the budget for meals for seniors.

To find out more about the PAN program, please visit our Programs page.