Rosemary McClain
Food Sourcing Director
Rosemary has served as Director of Food Sourcing at the East Texas Food Bank since 1991. In that period of time, she has seen the poundage grow from 25,000 pounds the first month the East Texas Food Bank distributed food to member agencies, to over 1 million pounds-per-month twenty years later. Mrs. McClain also assisted in the development of the annual Robert E. Lee and John Tyler High School ‘Pantry Raid,’ one of the largest annual food drives in the community, collecting nearly 1,000,000 pounds of food since 1991. She has also worked side-by-side with the local members of the National Association of Letter Carriers during their annual Stamp Out Hunger food drive. Additionally, she also supervises several East Texas Food Bank programs including Agency Services, Child Hunger Programs, Nutrition Education, and Outreach and Enrollment. Rosemary is also a leader in the community, serving on numerous community and professional organizations. Mrs. McClain earned her Bachelor's in Arts from Baylor University.
Email Rosemary
Kirk Goodman
Programs Manager
Kirk joined the East Texas Food Bank in September of 2007 as an Agency Service Representative, after working for the United States Peace Corps in the island nation of Vanuatu for two years. While in the Peace Corps, Kirk helped develop and coordinate a project to build and stock a community library in the town center of Ndui Ndui, West Ambae. Kirk’s time abroad in Vanuatu, as well as time spend in Asia and Central America, provided him extensive knowledge of poverty and hunger-related issues both domestic and abroad. Since at the East Texas Food Bank, Kirk has grown to appreciate the complexity of the hunger problem here in the United States and the strategies used to combat it. Upon arrival, he quickly learned the unique value of the agency network utilized by the food bank to reach those in need throughout East Texas. As Programs Manager, he has also developed an appreciation for the various specialized programs the food bank has assembled to fight hunger in all of its hard to reach places. Kirk graduated from Clarksville High School and holds a Bachelors of Arts degree in History from Stephen F. Austin State University.
Email Kirk
Irene Howard
Agency Services Representative
Irene Howard joined the East Texas Food Bank in Feb 2007 after working for The East Texas Crisis Center as Client Services Director and Special Events & Fundraising Coordinator for 5 years. While at ETCC, she worked directly with clients and their families assessing needs and helping with problem solving. As an Agency Services Representative, Irene is in charge of monitoring and overseeing all the East Texas Food Bank's partner agencies.
Email Irene
Michelle Matthews
Agency Services Representative
Michelle Matthews joined the East Texas Food Bank in October of 2011. She is a new resident of Texas, moving from Bakersfield, California. Michelle comes to the East Texas Food Bank after working with the Kern County Department of Public Health in Disease Control. She has approximately 15 years working with non-profit agencies and is driven to make a difference in her community. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Liberal Studies from the University of La Verne and a Special Education Teaching credential. She has a desire to make things happen. When not working at the East Texas Food Bank, she enjoys spending time with her family and exploring all that Texas has to offer.
Email Michelle
Sarah Sarran
Senior Hunger Specialist
Sarah Sarran joined the East Texas Food Bank in September of 2011. Sarah is originally from East Texas, graduating from Trinity School of Texas in Longview. She graduated from Rhodes College in Memphis, TN with a double major in Business and Religious Studies. Sarah oversees the Senior Food Box program, working with agencies and directly with towns to aid in feeding senior citizens. She has always been passionate about helping people, and while in Memphis, she created and organized a food drive on her campus to feed the increasing need during the holiday season. In her spare time Sarah likes to spend time with her husband, bake, create prints on Photoshop, and play with her boxer, Barnabas.
Email Sarah
Brandi Lamberth
Child Hunger Programs
Brandi Lamberth joined the East Texas Food Bank in May 2005, after working for Aldine ISD in Houston as a fifth grade language arts teacher for three years. Regularly, she would have students come to school hungry, asking for snacks, and getting terrible stomach aches after lunch. What Brandi didn't know at the time is that these children were showing physical signs of malnutrition and hunger. Since leaving the education field, she learned what "hunger" means, wanted to make a bigger difference in the lives of children, and continuously educates the community about child hunger. Brandi holds a Bachelor of Arts from Stephen F. Austin State University in Intrapersonal Communications and PR/Journalism and a Texas Teaching Certification.
Email Brandi
Faye Browning
Child Hunger Programs
Faye Browning joined the East Texas Food Bank in October 1995 after working for Racer Components for two years. While at Racer Components, Faye made transmission covers, shoes, gloves, and helmet bags for race car drivers. She has extensive knowledge in Microsoft Office and other technological programs. While at the East Texas Food Bank, she has seen the staff grow from 15 to over 40 employees and has worked in many departments including, Salvage Manager, Reclamation Center, Repack, Development, Agency Services, Administrative Assistance ,and currently assist with Child Hunger Programs. Faye is a graduate of the Leadership Foundation of New East Texas. Her leadership skills are displayed throughout the community volunteering to help with the distribution of food to needy families, tutoring, mentoring, and assist with many community events. The East Texas Food Bank presented her with the "Someone Special Volunteer Award" for outstanding service to our community. Faye holds an Associate Degree in Mission and Ministry from the International College of Missions, Romania, CA and earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Business from Texas College
Email Faye
Shalom Fairley
Nutrition Education Specialist
Shalom Fairley joined the East Texas Food Bank in September 2012. Originally from Orange, NJ Shalom has a Public Health Nutrition degree from West Chester University and a Master's Degree in Secondary Education. Shalom has worked for ARAMARK as a Food Service Director in several states and supervised 13 schools with over 150 employees. She was also a high school nutrition teacher in Georgia for five years, teaching students about nutrition and wellness, food science and nutrition through the lifespan. Shalom has mentored 80 girls in GIFTS (Girls In Focus to Succeed), a community based program that engages high school girls in community service, as well as preparing them for transition from high school to the real world. In her spare time, she enjoys swimming, listening to live jazz, traveling and baking. Shalom's nutrition motto is "there are no bad foods...variety and moderation is the key to a successful meal plan."
Email Shalom
Melina Gonzalez
Outreach & Enrollment Specialist
Melina Gonzalez joined the East Texas Food Bank in October 2010, after working for The City of Tyler Housing Department as an Eligibility Analyst for six years. Melina worked with families from different backgrounds to help them apply for the housing program. As an Outreach Specialist, she goes to different partner agencies all over East Texas and helps families sign up for services such as SNAP (food stamps) and CHIP. Melina graduated from John Tyler High School and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration/Accounting and a minor in Spanish from the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma. .
Email Melina
Yulonda Richard
Outreach & Enrollment Specialist
Yulonda Richard joined the East Texas Food Bank in October 2009 after working with a partner agency of the East Texas Food Bank. Yulonda helps clients with SNAP (food stamps) applications and other various forms of assistance while working from CISC in Lufkin. She travels extensively within the 26 county region, and has helped over 1,200 families receive SNAP (food stamp) benefits. Yulonda is an active volunteer at several organizations, including the Hope Center of North Lufkin helping to feed children during the summer. A native of Lufkin, Yulonda attended Jarvis Christian College in Hawkins.
Email Yulonda
Amanda Whittiker
Outreach & Enrollment Specialist
Amanda Whittiker joined the East Texas Food Bank in July 2011 after working in law enforcement as an advocate for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault. Amanda travels throughout the Northeast Texas area helping families apply for SNAP (food stamps), TANF and other benefits at East Texas Food Bank partner agencies. Amanda is a graduate of Quitman High School and holds an Associate degree in Criminal Justice from Northeast Texas Community College and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Victim Studies with a minor in Political Science from Sam Houston State University in Huntsville,TX.
Email Amanda