Volunteers help fight hunger and feed hope during COVID-19 pandemic
Volunteers are an essential part to helping the East Texas Food Bank continue our mission of “fighting hunger and feeding hope in East Texas”. They have played a much more vital role recently as we have been distributing even more food due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic everyone is facing.
One of our great volunteers, Bertha Viramontes, has been helping with the Tyler produce distribution held at the East Texas State Fairgrounds twice a month for almost a year.
“I’ve seen that there are a lot of people that need food,” she said. “It’s been good to help others and give them food for their tables.”
Bertha said she sees people smiling and saying thank you often while she is working.
“You get to know people and their situations,” she said.
While COVID-19 has not affected Bertha or her family personally, she understands the hardships many she sees during the distribution are facing.
“Food is getting much more expensive and then you may have (purchase) limits,” she said.
Bertha encourages anyone who wants to help to contact the food bank to find out how to volunteer.
“At the end of the day, you will feel good helping.”
If you would like to volunteer with the East Texas Food Bank, click here to find out more information.