Michael Hetrick, Author at East Texas Food Bank

Egg Bites

Egg Bites

Adapted and modified from Art and the Kitchen

Photo Credit: Art and the Kitchen

Keyword: Breakfast, Snack

Ingredients

6 eggs
3 tablespoons milk
3/4 cup grated cheddar cheese
1 cup ground breakfast sausage, cooked
3/4 cup red bell pepper, chopped
1/4 cup onion, chopped
1/2 tablespoon oil
salt and pepper to taste
cooking spray

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350º Fahrenheit. Spray mini muffin pan generously with cooking spray.
Heat the oil in a skillet. Add red pepper and onion. Sauté until the peppers and onion are slightly tender. About 4-5 minutes.
In a separate bowl or large measuring cup, whisk together the eggs and milk.
In another bowl, add sausage and veggie mixture.
Use a spoon to add the sausage and veggie mixture to a greased mini muffin pan. Top with cheese.
Pour egg and milk mixture into each mini muffin section.
Bake at 350º F for about 14-16 minutes. Tops should be golden brown.

Recipe Notes

This recipe is customizable, and ingredients can be swapped based on your family's preferences.

Church Donates Over 4,000 Gallons of Milk to Catholic Charities and East Texas Food Bank

he Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is supporting local hunger relief efforts by delivering 4,320 gallons of 2% milk to East Texas Food Bank and Catholic Charities on Wednesday August 13.

TYLER – The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is supporting local hunger relief efforts by delivering 4,320 gallons of 2% milk to East Texas Food Bank and Catholic Charities on Wednesday August 13.

“We’re incredibly grateful for the partnership, generosity and grace of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in providing milk to our pantries,” said Dave Woodyard, CEO of Catholic Charities Dallas. “Collaborations like these make a huge difference in serving the most vulnerable in our community.”

Milk is one of the most requested—and hardest to obtain—items at food banks, according to Feeding America.

The truck will first unload half of the donation at Catholic Charities in Dallas and then the rest to East Texas Food Bank in Tyler.

As the top food source of calcium, vitamin D, and potassium, milk plays a key role in nutrition. But for many children and families in need, even basic staples like milk—and the essential nutrients it provides—are often out of reach. This donation will aid families as they plan for back-to-school necessities.

“We’re grateful for the opportunity to partner with Catholic Charities Dallas to provide milk to our community,” said Peter Harris, communications director for the Church in the Dallas–Fort Worth metro area. “This delivery was so needed in our area.”

Harris added, “We are thankful for the work Catholic Charities does day in and day out to address food insecurity in Dallas. Together, we share a commitment to alleviating hunger, and we look forward to continued opportunities to support this vital mission.”

DFW ranks third among U.S. metro areas for the highest number of people facing hunger, according to Feeding America.

The Church has a long-standing partnership with both Catholic Charities Dallas and East Texas Food Bank, providing volunteers and donations as needs arise. Both organizations have the infrastructure to distribute the milk efficiently across East Texas and the DFW area. The Church was also recognized with the “Hunger Hero Award” for their outstanding contributions to the East Texas Food Bank.

“We are privileged to work so closely with these partners to ease the burden in our communities,” says President Charles Rhodus, Stake President and leader of the Church in Tyler area. “Our goal is to give as Jesus Christ would give to those in need.”

The Church and these two nonprofit partners share the goal of alleviating hunger and helping individuals in need, with an emphasis on treating everyone with dignity and respect as they work toward greater self-reliance.

This donation originated from the Church’s dairy operations in Utah. One of the Church’s regional humanitarian priorities is to help meet the basic needs of those experiencing hunger. Texas currently leads the nation in food insecurity.

Turkey Pinwheels

Turkey Pinwheels

Picture Credit: eatingbirdfood.com

Keyword: Entrée

Ingredients

4 whole wheat tortillas (10 inch)
1 package oven roasted turkey, sliced
1 head lettuce
1 package sliced cheddar cheese
1 5.3 oz cup plain non-fat Greek yogurt
1 package dry ranch seasoning

Instructions

In a small bowl, mix together 1 tablespoon of the ranch seasoning packet with the Greek yogurt.
Lay the whole wheat tortillas on a flat surface. Spread a thin layer of the ranch dip on each tortilla.
Layer two lettuce leaves over each tortilla, followed by two slices of turkey and one slice of cheddar cheese.
Starting with the edge closest to you, fold over the tortilla so it sticks, and then roll it up as tightly as possible, tucking in the fillings as you go.
With the seam side facing down, slice the roll into 1" wide pieces.
Arrange on a plate and enjoy!

Tyler ISD Schools Prepare for 35th Annual Pantry Raid

Tyler High and Tyler Legacy are coming together again this year before their big football rivalry to raise funds and food to support the East Texas Food Bank’s BackPack program as part of the 35th Annual Pantry Raid.

The East Texas Food Bank and the Tyler Independent School District host the annual event. Since the pantry raid began in 1991, students have raised more than 1.9 million meals.

“Child hunger is a concern in our region. According to new Feeding America Map the Meal Gap statistics, 1 in 4 East Texas children are food insecure,” said David Emerson, CEO of the East Texas Food Bank. “Many student’s families depend on the ETFB BackPack program to help fill the weekend hunger gap, so we greatly appreciate the students for keeping this event going for 35 years!”

Last year students raised funds and food to provide 117,243 meals. Tyler High and Tyler Legacy students will collect food and funds over the next several weeks. Monetary donations will support ETFB’s programs that serve Tyler ISD students, such as the BackPack Program. More than 8,800 East Texas children receive BackPacks every weekend filled with nutritious, kid-friendly food.

“This is a tradition our students look forward to every year,” said Jennifer Hines, Tyler ISD Chief Communications Officer. “Their involvement makes a real difference for classmates and families who rely on the BackPack program for weekend meals. Each campus brings its own creativity to the effort, engaging students and families while reinforcing the importance of service and community support.”

The results are announced at halftime during the two Tyler school’s annual football game on Friday, September 5, at Christus Trinity Mother Frances Rose Stadium. Donations can be made at www.tylerpantryraid.com

USDA’s Announcement of Local Food Purchases to Support Communities Facing Hunger

Feeding America welcomes the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s announcement of its intent to purchase $230 million in nutritious food—including fresh seafood, fruits, vegetables, and beans—for distribution through programs like The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP). This food is urgently needed and will help get more meals onto the shelves of food banks and pantries across the country—supporting both the people who grow our food and the people working hard to build a better future for themselves and their families.

We’re especially grateful to the U.S. farmers, growers and producers whose work makes this possible—and to USDA for its ongoing partnership. This investment ensures that food grown by farmers in America stays in our communities. We stand ready, through the Feeding America network of more than 200 food banks and 60,000 faith-based and community organizations, to help ensure this food reaches the people who need it most.

Tens of millions of people in the United States continue to face challenges accessing the food and resources they need to thrive. Meeting this challenge requires all of us—government, agriculture, nonprofits, and local communities—working together. This investment is one example of how that collective action can help ensure everyone has access to the food they need to thrive.

Feeding America is committed to an America where no one is hungry. We support tens of millions of people who experience food insecurity to get the food and resources they say they need to thrive as part of a nationwide network of food banks, statewide food bank associations, food pantries and meal programs. We also invest in innovative solutions to increase equitable access to nutritious food, advocate for legislation that improves food security and work to address factors that impact food security, such as health, cost of living and employment. We partner with people experiencing food insecurity, policymakers, organizations, and supporters, united with them in a movement to end hunger. Visit FeedingAmerica.org to learn more.