Our names are Brad & Kelly Orschelon, founders of Feeding Hands. What started as a simple conversation over dinner, paired with an act of kindness by a boy wanting to help a friend in need, has turned into a full-blown non-profit organization that's helping thousands of families across Texas.
Our son, Chip, was only in third grade when he noticed a friend who sometimes wore the same pants and shoes several days in a row, and, most of the time, seemed really hungry. Chip would share half of his lunch and started asking us to pack an extra bag of chips or piece of fruit. It wasn't until our "seed" conversation that we realized what was going on.
Growing up on a farm ourselves, we knew a few people in the industry and started rekindling our connections. One thing led to another, and Feeding Hands was born.
Today, we collaborate with local farmers across Texas to support the growing need to fight hunger in rural communities. We fund and support sections of plots that provide homegrown, nutritious food to local soup kitchens and pantries. These growers have also agreed to be teaching farms to give people a place to learn, work, and grow their own source of food.
Feeding Hands would only be "a nice idea" if it weren't for the network of growers we've established across the state. Their dedication, willingness to collaborate, and generous offer to use their land to feed those in need is truly a treasure.