Author: Michael Hetrick

Thank you for helping Jennifer get back on her feet

Hello. I’m Jennifer. This is my second trip ever to the East Texas Food Bank. My family never needed their help before, but then businesses started shutting down. Like a lot of folks around here, I lost my job really suddenly.

We tried to make ends meet for a while, but without my pay coming in, it was hard. There came a point when we just had to make the call: If we don’t ask for help, we’re going to go hungry.

So we came to a drive-through food distribution that was happening near us—and wow. I was blown away by how easy they made everything. It still broke my heart to see so many people lined up to get help, but the staff here are wonderful. They have a kind word for every last one of us.

We picked up a big load of milk, eggs, fresh produce and other basics that first time, and today, we got another couple weeks’ worth. We’re so appreciative—it really takes a lot of stress off!

There’s more good news: I just went back to work yesterday, so this food will help us get by until I get my first couple of paychecks. Then I hope we won’t have to use this resource so some of our other neighbors can benefit from it instead.

Thank you so much for helping my family get through this!

Black History Month: Hunger Heroes

During Black History Month in February, the East Texas Food Bank wanted to celebrate the stories of both national and local Black “Hunger Heroes” who help our neighbors keep food on the table all year-round.

The Honorable Shirley Chisholm

Many Americans know the Honorable Shirley Chisholm as the first African-American woman to be elected to Congress in 1968. Paving the way for Black women in U.S. politics, Representative Chisholm (D-NY) also played an essential role in the creation of the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), ensuring that low-income mothers everywhere could access free, healthy food for their young children. (information courtesy of FRAC)

Chris Thompson. ETFB Volunteer


Chris has been volunteering for about three years, helping with our produce distributions in Tyler. After working with the Department of Public Safety for 27 years, Chris told us volunteering allows him to continue to serve the community.
“Volunteering is so valuable,” Chris said. “You are serving the person and also you are fulfilling yourself. I’m proud to say I’m a part of the food bank.”

Valencia Watson, ETFB Child Hunger Programs Manager

“I really love helping people and especially children since they can’t advocate for themselves,” says Valencia Watson, East Texas Food Bank Child Hunger Programs Manager. “That’s what brought me here. I can do some ‘hands-on’ with being able to help families and children.”
Valencia joined the East Texas Food Bank almost seven years ago and has worked in our Child Hunger Programs since her first day. While she loves all the programs she supervises, the Summer Food Program is her favorite.
“You can expand to so many different cities and have kids from all over that come to get food from parks and other areas,” she said. “It’s a way for more kids to be fed, which is great!”

National Nutrition Month: Eat a variety of nutrition foods every day!

March is National Nutrition Month®️, and the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics wants to help give everyone the tools to make informed food choices and develop healthful eating and physical activity habits for life. This year’s theme is to Personalize Your Plate, and this week’s message is to:

Eat a variety of nutritious foods every day!

Follow these tips below to help you know how to eat a balanced diet in a mindful way.

  • Include healthful foods from all food groups – eating a balanced diet that includes all food groups is an easy way to help your body get the nutrients it needs.
  • Fruits – make half your plate fruits and vegetables! Choose fruit that is fresh, frozen,        dried, or canned in 100% fruit juice.
  • Vegetables – make half your plate fruits and vegetables! Choose vegetables that are fresh, frozen, or canned without added salt.
  • Grains – make half your grains whole grains, like oatmeal, popcorn, quinoa, brown rice, and whole grain flours.
  • Protein – try different protein foods, like seafood, beans, peas, lentils, nuts, seeds, soy, eggs, and lean meats and poultry.
  • Dairy – choose low-fat or fat-free milk, yogurt, calcium-fortified soymilk, and cheese.
  • Hydrate healthfully – staying hydrated helps keep you healthy and helps your body function like it’s supposed to.
  • Keep water with you throughout the day, and drink it when you’re thirsty.
  • Instead of sugar-sweetened drinks, try drinking water or sparkling water with fruit, vegetables, and/or herbs added. Be creative! Add lemons or limes, strawberries, cucumbers, mint, or basil.
  • Fruits, like cantaloupe, strawberries, and watermelon, and vegetables, like lettuce, celery, and spinach, are full of water and can help you stay hydrated.
  • Learn how to read Nutrition Facts Panels
  • First, look at the servings per container and the serving size. All information on the food label is based on the serving size, so if you eat more than the serving size, you’re getting more of the nutrients listed.
  • For one serving of food, try to limit saturated fat, trans fat, sodium, and added sugars to less than 5% of the daily value.
  • For one serving of food, try to aim for at least 20% of the daily value for vitamins, minerals, and fiber.
  • Check the ingredient list for whole grains and hidden sources of trans fat (partially hydrogenated oils) and sugar (ingredients that end in -ose, honey, and corn sweeteners).
  • Avoid distractions while eating – eating while driving, watching TV, or otherwise multitasking prevents you from focusing on what you’re eating and can easily lead to overeating.
  • Try turning your phone, computer, and TV off while you eat.
  • Try not to snack while you’re working on something else – take a moment to notice why you want to snack. Are you actually hungry or are you feeling bored, stressed, or just wanting something to do with your hands?
  • Take time to enjoy your food
  • Before you eat, pay attention to how you feel and how your food smells. Are you hungry, stressed, distracted?
  • As you eat, pay attention to what your food tastes like and feels like in your mouth.
  • After you finish eating, notice how your body feels. Are you still hungry, do you feel overly full, or do you feel satisfied?

Check back next week for more National Nutrition Month information! You can also follow us on Facebook and find healthy recipes here.

Winter Storm Recovery Resources

As East Texans begin the recovery process from the winter storm last week, the East Texas Food Bank is hard at work providing support and food for our partner agency network through our 26 county service area. Below, we have gathered some resources for those who are looking for assistance during this time.

Finding Help

Food Pantries and Feeding Program

Click the “Find Food” button at the top of any page on our website to be directed to our locator at the bottom of the screen. Select your county or input you city and state to see a list of food pantries in your area. **NOTE: Some pantries may have limited hours or be closed due to effect from the storm. Please contact your local pantry for current information.**

Drive-Thru Food Distributions

The East Texas Food Bank is continuing drive-thru distributions in Tyler, Longview and Lufkin for the next few months. These are open to the public, with no ID or paperwork necessary. Click here to see the latest dates.

Help Applying for Assistance Programs

The East Texas Food Bank Benefits Assistance Team can help you apply for benefits such as SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program), TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families), CHIP (Children’s Health Insurance Program) & Children’s Medicaid, Medicaid for Pregnant Women, Healthy Texas Women and Medicare Savings Program. To request benefits information and assistance, click here and fill out the form at the bottom of the page. One of our Benefits Assistance Specialist will contact you about your request.

SNAP Benefits Update

Due to the storm, SNAP households that lost food during the storm can request replacement SNAP benefits. To do this, clients need to call 2-1-1 (option 5) during business hours (M-F, 9-6) to request replacement benefits. 2-1-1 will accept their verbal statement attesting to their loss. Clients can request up to 100% of their monthly benefit depending on how much food was lost. For additional ways to request benefits and other updates. click here.

HHSC also got approval of a Hot Foods Waiver for all current SNAP recipients. This will allow households to purchase hot and already prepared foods at SNAP-approved retailers. This will help people who can’t cook due to power outages, storm damage and lack of water.

Giving Help

With help from our volunteers, donors and advocates, we work hard to fight hunger in East Texas—in times of crisis and all year long. If you are healthy and able to volunteer, you can find upcoming shifts when you click here. For those able to give a gift during this time, your generosity can make an immediate impact.

“I volunteer because it’s good for the heart to give to other people”

Veda

Veda Flowers has been a volunteer with Helping Hands of Kilgore, an East Texas Food Bank partner agency, for three years. However, she told us that she has seen quite the change this past year.

“We’ve seen a lot more people because of COVID,” Veda said, adding that many are first time visitors to the pantry.

“Sometimes people are embarrassed because they never have had to come to ask before,” Veda added. “I think they are grateful there is somewhere they can get help and assistance when they need it.”

As a volunteer at Kilgore Helping Hands, Veda helps fill food boxes, hands out fresh produce and is in charge of distributing boxes to seniors that are enrolled in the East Texas Food Bank Senior Box Program.

“I volunteer because it’s good for the heart to give to other people,” Veda said. “It’s also good you can give of yourself.”

Veda encourages those that can volunteer to do so. She also has a special message to donors that help the East Texas Food Bank and partner food pantries.

“I would tell those that donate, ‘thank you so much!’” Veda said. “We help so many families each month thanks to them.”

Want to get in helping to fight hunger? Make a donation now or find out how to volunteer with us.