SERVINGS
4
Your support will help us fill BackPacks for East Texas children at risk of hunger
This school year we’ll be serving 4,700 children at 130 sites…and there’s still more we could do.
On Friday, the children in the program receive a BackPack filled with about 7 pounds of nutritious, easy-to-open food that does not require stovetop cooking. Over the years, we’ve improved the nutritional quality and increased the amount of food children receive for extended holidays like Thanksgiving, Christmas and spring break. Our goal is to ensure that children who receive school meals during the week don’t have to worry about going hungry on the weekend. Your continued support is what helps make this possible. The cost per child is $162 per year for a 36-week program. As we get ready to start a new school year, please give online at EastTexasFoodBank.org/DonateNow or please return the enclosed reply slip with your donation. Your gift today will help us provide nutritious food for children, families, and seniors who rely on us for assistance throughout the school year.
N e w s f r o m t h e E a s t Te x a s F o o d B a n k EastTexasFoodBank.org/DonateNow
It’s exciting to watch our new building take shape as we’re expanding to meet the growing need for food assistance in our 26-county service area. Our new building will increase our distribution capacity and improve workplace and food safety, while also promoting client empowerment and community engagement. Some highlights include: • A Volunteer Center • A Nutrition Education Center • An expanded cold dock • Warehouse improvements With this More Space. More Meals expansion, and the generosity of friends like you, we believe we can provide 40 million meals a year by 2025. Thank you for your support.
Connect with us!
MY FALL GIFT—$1 provides food for 8 meals YES, Dennis, I want to help fight hunger and feed families and seniors who are struggling in East Texas.
You’re helping me feed my children while we get back on our feet My name is Brittnie. I’m here with my son to get food for my family. Right after we had Jackson, my fiancé was laid off from his job as an engineer on the railroads. He also took extended time off to take care of me while I struggled with some medical issues. We couldn’t make ends meet anymore, so we had to move out of our house and now we’re living with a friend. Recently, my fiancé got a roofing job, and we’re waiting to get our finances settled so we can move closer to where he’s working.
“ The hardest thing in the world is worrying about what your children are going to eat.” —BRITTNIE
I also have two elementary-age children, and keeping enough food on the table for them has been difficult. Recently, my daughter had a friend come over, who hadn’t eaten before she arrived. My daughter had a full-blown meltdown because she was so worried about food. It was horrible. “Mommy! We don’t have enough food to last!” she told me. That was heartbreaking. The hardest part is putting
on a smile and making the kids feel like everything will be okay, even when I’m stressed out inside.
My family wouldn’t have made it without your support This isn’t the first time we’ve needed food assistance. Right out of high school, I joined the military. After I got out, I worked as a teacher in an afterschool program while I had my kids. Those were hard times for us, and sometimes it meant going without so they could have enough. The hardest thing in the world is worrying about what your children are going to eat. To the donors of the East Texas Food Bank, I just want to say thank you for keeping food on the table for my kids. There have been times we wouldn’t have made it through without your support.
When families are struggling with food insecurity, children can experience the stress of not having enough despite parents’ efforts to hide that. Your support not only helps parents like Brittnie put enough food on the table, but it also helps support our child hunger programs, which you can read about inside.
To charge your gift by phone, call 800.815.FOOD.
Enclosed is my gift of: □ $150 □ $100 □ $50 □ $25 □ Other $______
Please charge my gift on my credit card: □ VISA □ MC □ AMEX □ DISC
m I want to become a Meal-A-Day donor with a monthly gift of $_________. My first gift is enclosed.
CARD NUMBER
NAME
NAME ON ACCOUNT
ADDRESS
TELEPHONE NUMBER
CITY STATE ZIP
SIGNATURE
Please make your check payable to:
Give online at EastTexasFoodBank.org/DonateNow
EAST TEXAS FOOD BANK 3201 Robertson Road Tyler, TX 75701-2532
SERVINGS
Expansion update!
When we started our BackPack program at two schools back in 2005, we knew we had to do something to provide more meal opportunities to the 1 in 4 children who live with food insecurity in East Texas. But, we never knew what a difference this program could make in the lives of so many students and how generous people like you would support this program. Since that time, the program has grown exponentially. This school year we’ll be serving 4,700 children at 130 sites throughout East Texas. And there’s still more we could do. Many of our schools have more need than we’re able to meet. We rely on the partnerships of teachers and staff to help determine which students will receive this nutritious weekend food.
FALL ISSUE 2018
EastTexasFoodBank.org/DonateNow
INSIDE
EXP. DATE
Your donation is tax-deductible as permitted by law. The East Texas Food Bank will send you a receipt in gratitude for your kindness to the individuals and families in East Texas who rely on us for food.
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Connect with us!
An encouraging word from the CEO
Page 3
The food you provide helps me stay healthy
Page 4 How you can help hungry children this summer
SERVINGS
2
An encouraging word from the CEO Dear Friend of the East Texas Food Bank, Addressing childhood hunger is such an important aspect of the work you make possible here at the Food Bank. As the school year starts up, our BackPack program will soon be delivering bags of nutritious weekend food to students across our service area. The new Volunteer Center in our building expansion will be a real benefit for this program, which requires so much volunteer support. We’re so grateful to “ What a gift to the folks who help us those we serve to create these bags of know how much wholesome food for atrisk children every week. this community
cares for them.” We’re also coming off a successful summer of our Kids Cafe program. This program continues during the school year by providing meals at various afterschool programs in East Texas.
EastTexasFoodBank.org/DonateNow
Help drive away hunger The only thing better than enjoying a great day of golf is knowing you’re playing for a great cause. On Monday, October 22, join us at the Hollytree Country Club to raise funds in support of the East Texas Food Bank and the fight against hunger in our community. The course is limited to 30 teams, so sign up now to reserve your spot today. Last year your support helped us raise enough funds to provide 355,344 meals to East Texas families and seniors in need. For more information on becoming a sponsor or signing up your team, you can contact Kali LaPrade at 903-597-3663 or please visit EastTexasFoodBank.org/golf. Get your teams together and let’s get out on the course to drive away hunger in East Texas!
I hope you know how deeply grateful we are for your faithful and generous support of this work. For those we serve, knowing how much this community cares for them can be a life-changing gift. Gratefully,
Dennis J. Cullinane, CEO
3
The food you provide helps me stay healthy My name is Donald, and I’ve been coming to get a senior box for the last four years. It helps out a lot.
helps me get by. I do all my own cooking, and I manage to stretch the food I receive to eat three meals a day.
I’m thankful this place is here I’ve also been able to receive food through the pantry program, and I appreciate everything they give me. I’m pretty healthy, and being able to “ I’m pretty get nutritious food helps healthy, and with that. I also appreciate how nice being able to everyone is here. They get nutritious treat us pretty good!
I moved to the area after I got divorced. Before I retired, I was working with concrete and had been doing that kind of work for a long time. I have two sons who don’t live too far away, and I get to see them pretty often. Living on Social Security can be a challenge. Trying to keep up with my bills and rent isn’t easy. The food really
food helps with that.” —CARL
Donald receives his senior box distribution at one of our partner agencies in Longview.
I never had to use a food pantry before in my life, so I’m thankful this place is here. I’d also like to say thank you to the people who support the East Texas Food Bank. You sure help me out a whole lot.
Volunteer Spotlight
Your support was there for me, so I want to give back
Whether it’s weekend food, afterschool meals, or summer breakfast and lunches, all of these programs you make possible work to fill the gaps when low-income children lose access to nutritious food. As Brittnie (cover) and Lori (page 3) both share, it’s heartbreaking to see your child worry about having enough to eat. Programs like our mobile pantry and the work we do with our partner agencies are more ways we help families provide enough food for their children. I believe our childhood hunger programs are also an investment in the long-term health of our region. When children have the nourishment they need to thrive and a safe place to learn and excel, they’ll grow up and become part of a high-quality workforce that will impact poverty and employment in our region.
SERVINGS
FALL ISSUE 2018
The volunteers who come to our warehouse to fill bags for our BackPack program, help with our mobile pantries, or serve at partner agencies are all passionate about doing something to help fight hunger. For volunteer Lori Lyle, giving back is very personal.
We would like to thank our
East Texas Food Bank Board of Directors Ann Howell
Jeff Johnston
Bill Mohl
Jim Daughtry
Bryan Jacobe, Chair-Elect
John Gaston
Cathy Schreiber, Treasurer
Kimberly Lewis
Diane Heindel, Secretary
Kenneth Cobb Leslie Harrison Michael W. Stevens
Edgar Burton
Rosemary Jones
Gregg Davis, Chair
Valeria Smith
Howard Tagg
Verna Hall
Jay Jelinek
“I’ve been in the situation where I needed food. I’ve been in the homeless shelter. I remember waking up and thinking ‘what am I going to feed my son?’ I never let him see my worry, but it was there,” recalls Lori, who volunteers at Mission Marshall Food Pantry, one of our partner agencies. “Without places like this, I can’t imagine what would have happened,” she says. “I’m so thankful there are places like this so that you can go somewhere and get food.”
to talk to, I can relate,” says Lori. “Someone was there for me when I needed help, and now I want to be there for somebody else.”
You’re helping hungry neighbors in East Texas when they need it most
“ Someone was there for me when I needed help, and now I want to be there for somebody else.” —LORI
Lori appreciates working at a client choice food pantry where people get to choose the food items they need most for their families. As she helps people who come in, Lori has the opportunity to hear their stories. “It’s very rewarding to me to be here and help out. To know that if they need someone
Lori also encourages others to volunteer, whatever their life experience. “I would have never guessed that I would wind up homeless and coming to a place to ask for food,” says Lori. “You have to appreciate that you may be blessed, but anything could happen. You never know when the situation will come when you’ll need somebody.” And to the donors of the East Texas Food Bank, Lori hopes they know how grateful people are who receive food: “The fact that you give so others can eat means a lot. Eating is a huge deal. You don’t want your child to ever worry about food, so places like this are absolutely wonderful.”
There are many ways you can help make a difference through volunteering your time and talents to help bring nutritious food to children, families and seniors in East Texas. To find out more please visit us at EastTexasFoodBank.org
SERVINGS
4
Your support will help us fill BackPacks for East Texas children at risk of hunger
This school year we’ll be serving 4,700 children at 130 sites…and there’s still more we could do.
On Friday, the children in the program receive a BackPack filled with about 7 pounds of nutritious, easy-to-open food that does not require stovetop cooking. Over the years, we’ve improved the nutritional quality and increased the amount of food children receive for extended holidays like Thanksgiving, Christmas and spring break. Our goal is to ensure that children who receive school meals during the week don’t have to worry about going hungry on the weekend. Your continued support is what helps make this possible. The cost per child is $162 per year for a 36-week program. As we get ready to start a new school year, please give online at EastTexasFoodBank.org/DonateNow or please return the enclosed reply slip with your donation. Your gift today will help us provide nutritious food for children, families, and seniors who rely on us for assistance throughout the school year.
N e w s f r o m t h e E a s t Te x a s F o o d B a n k EastTexasFoodBank.org/DonateNow
It’s exciting to watch our new building take shape as we’re expanding to meet the growing need for food assistance in our 26-county service area. Our new building will increase our distribution capacity and improve workplace and food safety, while also promoting client empowerment and community engagement. Some highlights include: • A Volunteer Center • A Nutrition Education Center • An expanded cold dock • Warehouse improvements With this More Space. More Meals expansion, and the generosity of friends like you, we believe we can provide 40 million meals a year by 2025. Thank you for your support.
Connect with us!
MY FALL GIFT—$1 provides food for 8 meals YES, Dennis, I want to help fight hunger and feed families and seniors who are struggling in East Texas.
You’re helping me feed my children while we get back on our feet My name is Brittnie. I’m here with my son to get food for my family. Right after we had Jackson, my fiancé was laid off from his job as an engineer on the railroads. He also took extended time off to take care of me while I struggled with some medical issues. We couldn’t make ends meet anymore, so we had to move out of our house and now we’re living with a friend. Recently, my fiancé got a roofing job, and we’re waiting to get our finances settled so we can move closer to where he’s working.
“ The hardest thing in the world is worrying about what your children are going to eat.” —BRITTNIE
I also have two elementary-age children, and keeping enough food on the table for them has been difficult. Recently, my daughter had a friend come over, who hadn’t eaten before she arrived. My daughter had a full-blown meltdown because she was so worried about food. It was horrible. “Mommy! We don’t have enough food to last!” she told me. That was heartbreaking. The hardest part is putting
on a smile and making the kids feel like everything will be okay, even when I’m stressed out inside.
My family wouldn’t have made it without your support This isn’t the first time we’ve needed food assistance. Right out of high school, I joined the military. After I got out, I worked as a teacher in an afterschool program while I had my kids. Those were hard times for us, and sometimes it meant going without so they could have enough. The hardest thing in the world is worrying about what your children are going to eat. To the donors of the East Texas Food Bank, I just want to say thank you for keeping food on the table for my kids. There have been times we wouldn’t have made it through without your support.
When families are struggling with food insecurity, children can experience the stress of not having enough despite parents’ efforts to hide that. Your support not only helps parents like Brittnie put enough food on the table, but it also helps support our child hunger programs, which you can read about inside.
To charge your gift by phone, call 800.815.FOOD.
Enclosed is my gift of: □ $150 □ $100 □ $50 □ $25 □ Other $______
Please charge my gift on my credit card: □ VISA □ MC □ AMEX □ DISC
m I want to become a Meal-A-Day donor with a monthly gift of $_________. My first gift is enclosed.
CARD NUMBER
NAME
NAME ON ACCOUNT
ADDRESS
TELEPHONE NUMBER
CITY STATE ZIP
SIGNATURE
Please make your check payable to:
Give online at EastTexasFoodBank.org/DonateNow
EAST TEXAS FOOD BANK 3201 Robertson Road Tyler, TX 75701-2532
SERVINGS
Expansion update!
When we started our BackPack program at two schools back in 2005, we knew we had to do something to provide more meal opportunities to the 1 in 4 children who live with food insecurity in East Texas. But, we never knew what a difference this program could make in the lives of so many students and how generous people like you would support this program. Since that time, the program has grown exponentially. This school year we’ll be serving 4,700 children at 130 sites throughout East Texas. And there’s still more we could do. Many of our schools have more need than we’re able to meet. We rely on the partnerships of teachers and staff to help determine which students will receive this nutritious weekend food.
FALL ISSUE 2018
EastTexasFoodBank.org/DonateNow
INSIDE
EXP. DATE
Your donation is tax-deductible as permitted by law. The East Texas Food Bank will send you a receipt in gratitude for your kindness to the individuals and families in East Texas who rely on us for food.
Page 2
8N/18 FB_48_33422_690
Connect with us!
An encouraging word from the CEO
Page 3
The food you provide helps me stay healthy
Page 4 How you can help hungry children this summer