Michael Hetrick, Author at East Texas Food Bank

East Texas Food Bank to receive philanthropic investment from MacKenzie Scott

This week, philanthropist MacKenzie Scott published a list of charitable investments that she is making in non-profits across the United States, Puerto Rico and Washington D.C. According to the article Scott published on Medium, 384 organizations were selected and the East Texas Food Bank is honored and proud to be included in this list of gift recipients.

“We are quickly convening our board of directors, leadership team and other stakeholders to ensure that the philanthropy entrusted to us will help more East Texans access more nutritious food and support services equitably and efficiently- now, during the crisis of COVID-19, and for the long term,” said East Texas Food Bank Chief Executive Officer Dennis Cullinane.

ETFB plans to share details about the gift and how it will be invested across ETFB’s 26 county service area in early 2021.

“This generous investment in the East Texas Food Bank is a vote of confidence in the work we are all doing together to end hunger in East Texas,” Cullinane said. “Every partner agency, volunteer, donor, staff member, board member and stakeholder should feel proud to receive this recognition and investment.”

Cullinane added that the investment will serve to advance our strategic plan and our capacity to achieve the goal of ending hunger in East Texas by enabling us to invest in initiatives and tactics that up until now lacked resources.

“The hunger crisis is bigger than what any one philanthropist can solve,” Cullinane added. Ending hunger and its devastating effects in East Texas is within our reach when we all come together to fight hunger. With this investment and continued generosity of all East Texans, we can end hunger together.”

The announcement comes as East Texas is battling an unprecedented hunger crisis. Texas has the 7th highest food insecurity rate in the nation. Locally, one in five East Texans, including one in three children, is facing hunger. That’s 256,410 East Texans, including 96,350 children and households of color experience disproportionately higher rates of hunger.

“The East Texas Food Bank values transparency and after a thorough review, analysis and strategic planning, we will share our plans for this investment and the impact it will have on the people we serve,” Cullinane added.

“I felt like I needed something to get me along for now.”

We spoke with Paul on a visit to an East Texas Food Bank partner pantry in November. Now in retirement, Paul said he usually visits the pantry once a month. However with the holidays coming up, he needed a bit extra to get by.

“My daughter and fiancé would normally be with me for Thanksgiving,” he said. “But not this year with the pandemic. We are all staying separated just in case.”

While Paul has not had any immediate members of his family affected by COVID-19, he did say that his daughter’s mother passed away from COVID-19 complications earlier this year.

“She was sickly already and by her immune system being down I think it took a toll on her,” he said. “It was tough to see. I was holding her hand while she was virtually dying.”

Paul said the food pantry serves a good purpose in the community and everything he receives comes in handy.

“I like the meats and the sweets,” he said laughing. “I have a bad sweet tooth!”

Paul wanted to say thank you to everyone that provides the food to those in need like him.

“You are doing a very good service to the community,” he said. “Without this, I don’t know what I would do. It’s tough out here.”

You can help us serve more families like Paul’s my donating, volunteering, educating others on our work and advocating for our programs.

“This has been tough. But this food is really a blessing.”

We met Gayle and her dog Ruby recently at one of our drive-thru produce distributions. Gayle said she has been coming for several months to pick up items for herself and her husband.

“We are both on social security,” Gayle said. “He has liver cancer and neither of us can work anymore. That’s why we need the help.”

Gayle told us that because of the pandemic, she and her husband have to stay home more now.

“We go to the doctor’s office, grocery store, pick up prescriptions,” she said. “That’s about it.”

Gayle said of her favorite items to receive is milk. She also added that she’s found several ways to use the apples she got recently.

“I’ve dried them. I’ve made cinnamon apples,” she said. “Tonight, I’m making applesauce with them.”

Gayle wanted to say thank you to everyone that makes the food distributions possible.

“From the bottom of two hearts, we thank you,” she said. “It’s been tough with his illness and not being able to work. This food is really a blessing. When this is all over, I want to volunteer to give back.”

Families like Gayle’s need our help in providing meals, especially during the holidays. Give now to the East Texas Food Bank and help provide more meals for our neighbors who are depending on us now.

Board of Directors Spotlight: Lisa Williams

Lisa Williams is the President of Black Nurses Rock in Tyler. She is new the East Texas Food Bank Board of Directors and joined this summer.

Lisa recently graduated from Leadership Tyler and did a tour of ETFB in her class. She told us she was amazed at the operations and learned so much about how ETFB works to make sure every East Texan has access to the nutritious food and services they need. Lisa said, “I’m just a proud member of the East Texas Food Bank Board and I love it!”

Outside of her community work, Lisa loves to travel and read leadership and motivational books. Her favorite movie is Rocky because “he never gave up and that’s important!”

Employee Spotlight: Lauren Barnes

Lauren Barnes joined the East Texas Food Bank in October 2019 as the Communications and Marketing Director. Lauren is responsible for all marketing, communications and advocacy activities across ETFB’s 26 county service area.

Lauren has a passion for using her skills to have a positive impact on the community and has dedicated her career to working with nonprofits. Her previous positions include working with adolescent mental health and substance abuse, early childhood development and education and academic after-school and summer programs.

When she’s not at work, Lauren is usually spending quality time with her fiancee, Cate, daughter, Madeline, and their three rescue pets. The pandemic has provided extra time for camping, board games and outdoor movies.