East Texas Food Bank Announces David Emerson as new Chief Executive Officer

The East Texas Food Bank (ETFB) announced today that David Emerson has been named the new Chief Executive Officer.

“We are pleased that David will become our sixth CEO in our 35 year history,” said Jeff Johnston, chair of the ETFB board. “We wanted someone who understands food banking and his previous non-profit experience in the Dallas-Ft. Worth area will be a great benefit to this organization.”

Emerson has more than 20 years of senior leadership experience and most recently served as the Executive Director of the Midwest Food Bank.

“I have a heart for feeding the community,” said Emerson. “I grew up in southern Arkansas and saw the need. I have a desire to continue the mission of the East Texas Food Bank and to address food insecurity in this region and especially in the rural communities. I hope to continue providing healthy and nutritious food and more produce to our neighbors. It’s also important to build on the partnerships we have with agencies.”

Emerson helped to restart operations for the Midwest Food Bank in Texas, increased revenue from $9 million to $25 million and grew the operations from 40 agency partners to 100 in Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana and Arkansas.Emerson also has extensive non-profit experience with the American Red Cross in Arizona, New Mexico and Texas.

He graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree from Henderson State University in Arkansas and a Master of Arts degree from Columbia International University in South Carolina.

Current ETFB CEO Dennis Cullinane will retire at the end of June after 13 years with the food bank.

East Texas Food Bank receives donation to help with summer food program

Thirty-eight thousand pounds of mixed goods will be delivered to The East Texas Food Bank, located at 3201 Robertson Road on Thursday, June 1 at 9 a.m. The 25 pallets of food weighing more than 38,000 pounds are being donated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to help aid those families who suffer from food insecurity over the summer months.

The East Texas Food Bank has a 26-county service area and aids several smaller banks throughout the region. This donation will be a great asset to communities throughout East Texas trying to feed children while school is out.

In addition to this donation, the Church also regularly supports the ongoing mobile distributions through JustServe.org. The Church posts volunteer opportunities for the community in partnership with the bank to gather volunteers to pass food out to residents across East Texas. Members and missionaries of the Church are part of the core group of regular volunteers for the mobile distribution effort.

“We are committed to easing the burden of food insecurity across East Texas,” says President Charles Rhodus, who leads the Tyler Texas Stake of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. “In following Christ’s example of Jesus Christ in caring for those in need we are grateful for the opportunity to help our neighbors.”

The donation from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is part of its ongoing global effort to care for the hungry. The Church is committed to serving smaller, rural communities that may have difficulty getting food due to employment issues, inflation, and high cost of childcare.

This donation to East Texas Food Bank will help aid those in need of basic necessities. The donation of mixed canned and boxed goods will include vegetables, chili, fruit, beef, peanut butter, dried milk, as well as numerous other items.

“We are so thankful for this generous donation from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints,” said Dennis Cullinane, CEO of the East Texas Food Bank. “We continue to see an increased need for food due to inflation and the end of extra pandemic SNAP benefits in Texas. This food will go a long way in helping us feed our neighbors.”

In May this year, the Church donated 38,000 pounds of food to Titus County Cares, in Mt. Pleasant, TX and in March donated to Food Bank of Northwest Louisiana. In 2020, the Church approved more than 100 relief projects in more than 50 countries to help with pandemic relief. Most of these humanitarian projects are done with trusted partners, such as The East Texas Food Bank, which allows the Church to use its resources in places where they can do the most good. The Church also made a sizeable food donation after the severe winter storms.

The East Texas Food Bank was selected based on its connection with the community, ongoing relief efforts, fantastic leadership, organized processes, and adequate unloading equipment. Because 25 pallets of food are scheduled for delivery on a 53-foot trailer, the selected site also needed space to store all of the goods. In addition, it was important for the Church to select a food bank that also serves smaller food banks without high charges or delivery fees.

East Texas Food Bank Announces the Retirement of CEO Dennis Cullinane

The East Texas Food Bank (ETFB) announced today that the Chief Executive Officer Dennis Cullinane is retiring at the end of the ETFB’s fiscal year on June 30, 2023.

“The ETFB board is very thankful for the 13 years of service Dennis has provided,” said Jeff Johnston, chair of the ETFB board. “During his tenure, ETFB doubled its meal distribution where today we are providing 27 million meals to 117,300 households in 26 counties in East Texas. He led us through the pandemic where ETFB saw tremendous need with long lines of people seeking food assistance, some for the first time.”

Cullinane served as Board Chair of Feeding Texas and Board Chair of the Collaborative for Fresh Produce among many other community and national boards and committees. Under his leadership, ETFB was recognized as Non-Profit of the Year by the Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce and twice by the Better Business Bureau.

“It has been my honor and privilege to serve as the CEO of such an incredible organization since 2010,” said Dennis Cullinane, CEO of ETFB. “I am proud of the impact we have had in East Texas. My goal has been to close the meal gap and ETFB has a strong strategic plan to expand our programs and services so we can meet this goal by 2025. I am excited to have opened our first branch in Lufkin in 2021 with three more opening this year in Tyler, Longview and Texarkana. I am thankful for all of the relationships and partnerships we have built and know ETFB will continue to thrive with the strong team that we have built.”

The ETFB Board of Directors formed a search committee and hired a firm to help identify and recruit qualified candidates for the CEO position.

“The new CEO will start in June so he has an opportunity to train with Dennis before his departure,” said Johnston

East Texas Food Bank to offer new Mobile Pantry in Daingerfield

The East Texas Food Bank (ETFB) will offer a new farmer’s market style Mobile Pantry on the first Wednesday of every month with fresh produce in Daingerfield in Morris County, from 10-11:30 a.m. beginning June 7th, at the Church on the Rock located at 909 Linda Dr.

“In Morris County, 17 percent of the residents, including 27 percent of children, are food insecure according to the latest data from Feeding America’s Map the Meal Gap,” said Dennis Cullinane, CEO of the East Texas Food Bank. “Studies show a direct link to good nutrition and health outcomes so the ability to offer more vegetables and fruits will greatly benefit the residents.”

ETFB is partnering with Special Health Resources of Texas to offer free health checkups to people who attend the distribution in a climate controlled bus. The Mobile Pantry is open to anyone needing food and there are no ID requirements. This is a walk-up pantry so participants are encouraged to bring wagons, carts or bags to help put their items in to take to their cars.

Volunteers are needed and if you would like to help please arrive at 9 a.m.

The East Texas Food Bank currently has six partner agencies that operate food pantries in Daingerfield, Naples and Omaha. If you need groceries, visit EastTexasFoodBank.org and click on FIND FOOD to see when pantries in your county are open.

East Texas Food Bank begins Free Summer Food Program

The East Texas Food Bank kicks off the free Summer Food Program on Tuesday, June 6 at 34 East Texas locations so children will not go hungry during the summer break.

“The Summer Food Program began in 2005 to fill the meal gap left when the school year ends and children lose access to free and reduced-price meals they depend on for nourishment,” said Dennis Cullinane, East Texas Food Bank CEO.

In Tyler, the Summer Food Program will kick-off at the Glass Recreation Center at 501 W. 32nd street with a special celebration of free activities from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. and a meal being offered at noon. Activities include: face painting, a petting zoo, a clown, games and free Kona Ice and Andy’s frozen custard.

In 2022, the East Texas Food Bank served 32,791 meals to 2,280 children throughout East Texas. This summer, ETFB is expected to serve 50,000 meals to over 3,400 children.
The meals are provided at various community sites Monday-Friday. There is no need to register. The program is for children 18 and younger. Some locations offer breakfast and lunch but all offer lunch. Meals are eaten at the location. Typical breakfast menus are cereal, juice, milk or breakfast bars while lunch includes wraps, wedges, sandwiches with deli meat, pizza lunchables, fresh fruit and chocolate milk.

Besides the meal, some of the locations at parks, churches and libraries offer other free activities for children. Check with the Summer Food Program you plan to visit for more information.
ETFB also provides food at various campuses for kids enrolled in summer school but these are not open to the public.
For the full list of locations and serving times visit EastTexasFoodBank.org/SummerFood or by calling 903-597-3663.