Category: News

East Texas Food Bank Announces New Director of Organizational Engagement

Starla Bickerstaff

The East Texas Food Bank has hired Starla Bickerstaff as the new Director of Organizational Engagement.

Bickerstaff has extensive experience in East Texas in retail management, manufacturing marketing, advertising management, and healthcare marketing.

She has a Bachelor of Business Administration in Management from the University of Texas at Tyler. She has worked as a volunteer with several groups including the American Heart Association Go Red for Women executive leadership team and For the Silent, Women of Hope- served on their fundraising team.

Bickerstaff is currently a member on the Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce Board and previously served as chair of the Membership Services/Contact Club Committee. She was honored as Volunteer of the Year by the chamber in 2023. She has also served on the board of the Lufkin Chamber of Commerce and the Winnie Berry Humane Society of Angelina County.

“We’re thrilled to have Starla join the East Texas Food Bank family,” said Tim Butler, chief development officer. “Her passion and heart for the East Texas community is a perfect fit for our team.”

A lifelong resident of East Texas, Bickerstaff is married with one child and has a strong passion for serving her community. She is eager to continue making a positive impact through her work with the East Texas Food Bank.

Hormel Foods and Brookshire Grocery Co. donate $100K of Hormel® Cure 81® hams to help thousands in need

BGC Hormel Ham Donation 2024

Hormel Foods Corporation and Brookshire Grocery Co. (BGC) partnered to donate nearly 8,000 Hormel® Cure 81® hams to help feed those in need this holiday season. The two companies are donating $100,000 worth of hams to the East Texas Food Bank and other food banks in the company’s market area for distribution throughout the communities where Brookshire’s, Super 1 Foods, Spring Market, and FRESH by Brookshire’s stores operate.

“We are very proud to annually partner with Hormel Foods and to donate $100,000 in hams to nonprofits, including the East Texas Food Bank,” said Brad Brookshire, Chairman and CEO of Brookshire Grocery Co. “We are dedicated to making a difference in our stores and the communities we serve. We are proud to help thousands of families this Christmas holiday with this partnership with Hormel for their Hams for Hunger program.”

Hormel Foods, BGC, and the East Texas Food Bank held a ceremony today at Super One Foods in Tyler to commemorate the occasion. Representatives from each organization discussed the significance of this donation in supporting hunger relief in communities supported by the food bank.

“We are thrilled to receive this generous gift of hams from Hormel Foods Corporation and Brookshire Grocery Co.,” said David Emerson, CEO of the East Texas Food Bank. “These hams will go a long way in helping our families in East Texas during the holidays and beyond.”

The makers of the Hormel® Cure 81® brand created the Hormel® Cure 81® Hams for Hunger™® program in 1989. The program involves a partnership between Hormel Foods and grocery retailers across the country.

Whataburger Franchisee Holds Annual Food Bank Fundraiser

Nearly two dozen Whataburger restaurants across East Texas will begin their annual East Texas Food Bank Ornament Sales Dec. 4. Guests can buy train ornaments to adorn each restaurant through Dec. 17 with all proceeds going to the East Texas Food Bank.

“They are a great organization that we’ve been partners with for 25 years,” DKT Investments Director of Marketing Nicole Jones said. “Some of our restaurants get so many donations that they end up papering the walls with ornaments. We start running out of places to put them.”

DKT Investments owns and operates 23 Whataburger restaurants in a dozen communities. The food bank serves clients from Texarkana to Lufkin.

By donating as little as $1, Guests can put their name on an ornament like this to hang in the restaurant.

People wanting to donate should visit participating restaurants in Tyler, Lindale, Chapel Hill, Henderson, Kilgore, Liberty City, Gilmer, Chandler, Mineola, Bullard, Whitehouse and Pittsburg to help.

The RGIII Foundation and Tyson Foods Partner to Donate 2,500 Pounds of Ham to East Texas Food Bank

RGIII Ham Donation

The RGIII Foundation, in partnership with Tyson Foods, is proud to announce a generous donation of 2,500 pounds of ham to the East Texas Food Bank. This incredible contribution will support local families in need during the holiday season, ensuring access to nutritious protein as part of their meals.

The donation underscores the RGIII Foundation’s commitment to community welfare and Tyson Foods’ dedication to fighting hunger across America. By joining forces, both organizations aim to make a meaningful impact on food security in East Texas.

“We are thrilled to partner with Tyson Foods in this initiative,” said Robert Griffin III, founder of the RGIII Foundation. “Ensuring that our neighbors right up the road from us have access to nutritious food is extremely important to me, especially in my home state of Texas. We cannot thank Tyson Foods enough for their generosity in helping families set their tables this holiday season and being a major partner of The RGIII Foundation.”

The East Texas Food Bank serves over 200,000 households and 26 counties, and this donation will help bolster their efforts to provide balanced meals to those in need.

Tyson Foods has long been a leader in corporate social responsibility, with a focus on hunger relief. This initiative highlights the power of collaboration between nonprofit organizations and corporate partners in addressing critical issues like food insecurity. The RGIII Foundation and Tyson Foods encourage others to join in their efforts and support local food banks during this season of giving.

Brookshire Grocery Company Donates Produce to the East Texas Food Bank

BGC_Donation

In partnership with the company’s vendor suppliers, Brookshire Grocery Co. is donating more than $80,000 worth of fresh produce to the East Texas Food Bank.

On Nov. 19, 2024, the food bank will receive 40,000 pounds of fresh produce to help feed those in need this holiday season. A ceremony will be held in Tyler at the East Texas Food Bank to celebrate the donation, which will help provide hunger relief in our local communities.

This donation is an extension of BGC’s 43rd annual Spirit of Christmas Food Drive program. Through Dec.17, all Brookshire’s, Super 1 Foods, Spring Market and FRESH by Brookshire’s stores are collecting donations of non-perishable food items to be donated to local service organizations and food pantries for distribution. Customers may also donate monetary donations using scan coupons at checkout. This annual food drive provides nearly half a million pounds of food to those in need throughout the company’s market areas.

BGC remains committed to supporting and making a difference in the more than 165 communities it serves. We deeply value our neighbors, and together, we can unite to fight hunger in our communities this holiday season.

About BGC
Brookshire Grocery Co. is a regional family-owned grocery business that operates more than 200 stores in four states- Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas and Oklahoma – with three distribution centers. The company proudly employs more than 17,000 individuals and has been recognized as a Great Place to Work every year since 2020. Known for friendly service, clean stores and strong community support, BGC has been in operation since 1928.