Category: News

East Texas Food Bank Announces the Retirement of CEO Dennis Cullinane

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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

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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.

Walmart and Sam’s Club Continue Their Commitment to Addressing Food Insecurity in East Texas through the Fight Hunger. Spark Change. Campaign

Rising food prices, continued supply chain disruptions and the end of pandemic-related federal emergency support programs are affecting the charitable food system as well as millions of people in America, with nearly 34 million people, including more than 9 million children, facing hunger.

For the 10th straight year, all U.S. Walmart stores and Sam’s Clubs are launching the Fight Hunger. Spark Change. campaign, helping to end food insecurity and provide nourishment to families and individuals across the country.

In partnership with Walmart customers, Sam’s Club members, suppliers and associates, the campaign aims to help people who experience food insecurity in [COMMUNITY] gain access to the food and resources they need to thrive.

As one of our largest annual cause marketing campaigns, Fight Hunger. Spark Change. has generated more than $165 million and helped secure nearly 1.7 billion meals* for the Feeding America® network of food banks since its inception in 2014, including here East Texas.

The campaign will run in store, in club and online from April 10-May 8. There are three easy ways to support neighbors in need.

  • For every participating product purchased in store, in club or online at Walmart.com or SamsClub.com, the supplier will donate the monetary equivalent of at least one meal ($0.10) on behalf of a Feeding America member food bank at Walmart and five meals ($0.50) at Sam’s Club, up to applicable limits. See specially marked packages for full details.
  • Donate at check-out in stores or clubs or round up at Walmart.com.
  • Donate at Feeding America’s Fight Hunger. Spark Change. campaign donation site at either FeedingAmerica.org/Walmart or www.FeedingAmerica.org/SamsClub.

 

“We are so appreciative of Walmart and Sam’s Club stores and their willingness to help our community,” said Dennis Cullinane, CEO of the East Texas Food Bank. “We look forward to this campaign each year as it helps us provide so many meals our neighbors need.”

“We are grateful to our associates, customers, members and suppliers who have joined us over the past 10 years to fight hunger in their communities,” said Kathleen McLaughlin, President of the Walmart Foundation. “While we strive to expand access to healthy, affordable food year-round, the annual Fight Hunger. Spark Change. campaign allows us to come together with Feeding America to raise awareness of food insecurity and invite others to join us in our work to end hunger.”

Walmart and Sam’s Club stores participate in the East Texas Food Bank’s Retail Store Program which allows partner agencies to receive food donations directly from the store for distribution in their local communities.

The 18 participating suppliers for Walmart include:  BIMBO Bakeries; BodyArmor; Bush Brothers & Company; Campbell Soup Company; The Clorox Company; The Coca-Cola Company; fairlife, LLC; Frito-Lay North America, Inc; General Mills; Iovate Health Sciences; Lactalis; Kellogg’s, Keurig Dr Pepper; Kraft Heinz; Monster Energy; Post Consumer Brands; Simply Good Foods; Unilever

The 16 participating suppliers for Sam’s Club include: Blue Triton Brands; BodyArmor; The Clorox Company; The Coca-Cola Company; Frito-Lay North America, Inc; General Mills; Hint; Kellogg’s; Keurig Dr Pepper; KIND; Kraft Heinz; Member’s Mark; Nestlé Purina Petcare Company; Nong Shim; Nissin; Vita Coco

To learn more about the campaign, visit: https://www.feedingamerica.org/partners/current-promotions.

*Currently, $1 helps provide at least 10 meals secured by Feeding America® on behalf of local member food banks.

About Feeding America
Feeding America® is the largest hunger-relief organization in the United States. Through a network of more than 200 food banks, 21 statewide food bank associations, and over 60,000 partner agencies, food pantries and meal programs, we helped provide 5.2 billion meals to tens of millions of people in need last year. Feeding America also supports programs that prevent food waste and improve food security among the people we serve; brings attention to the social and systemic barriers that contribute to food insecurity in our nation; and advocates for legislation that protects people from going hungry. Visit www.feedingamerica.org, find us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.

Walmart
Walmart Inc. (NYSE: WMT) helps people around the world save money and live better – anytime and anywhere – in retail stores, online, and through their mobile devices. Each week, approximately 240 million customers and members visit more than 10,500 stores and numerous eCommerce websites in 20 countries. With fiscal year 2023 revenue of $611 billion, Walmart employs approximately 2.1 million associates worldwide. Walmart continues to be a leader in sustainability, corporate philanthropy and employment opportunity. Additional information about Walmart can be found by visiting https://corporate.walmart.com, on Facebook at https://facebook.com/walmart, on Twitter at https://twitter.com/walmart, and on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/walmart/.

Sam’s Club
Sam’s Club®, a division of Walmart Inc. (NYSE: WMT), is a leading membership warehouse club offering superior products, savings, and services to millions of members in nearly 600 U.S. clubs, including Puerto Rico. Now in its 40th year, Sam’s Club continues to redefine warehouse shopping with its highly curated assortment of high-quality fresh food and Member’s Mark items and market-leading technologies and services like Scan & Go™, Curbside Pickup and home delivery service in select markets. To learn more about Sam’s Club, visit the Sam’s Club Newsroom, shop at samsclub.com, and interact with Sam’s Club on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and Tik Tok.

Texas Food Banks Urge Legislators to Fight College Hunger, Improve Graduation Rates

The Feeding Texas network, made up of 21 food banks across the state, is calling on state legislators to address hunger on college campuses in a virtual day of advocacy.

The inability to afford basic needs is the number one reason cited by community college students for not completing their education. Even with tuition aid, 38% of students at two-year colleges and 29% of students at four-year universities experience hunger, according to a recent #RealCollege survey.

“We know that some college students in our area are skipping meals and only eating once a day because it’s difficult for them to afford food and pay for school,” said Dennis Cullinane, CEO of the East Texas Food Bank. “It’s difficult to pay attention in class when you are hungry.”

“College students should not have to choose between food and education,” said Celia Cole, CEO of Feeding Texas. “The legislature must act to ensure students can access the food assistance they need to finish their degrees and go on to gainful employment.”

Sen. Royce West and Rep. Armando Walle filed companion bills in the Senate (SB557) and House (HB 1501) that would instruct the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) to identify college degree programs that are vocational or technical in nature so that students enrolled in these programs can receive SNAP benefits.

“Our workforce depends on students graduating with the skills and training they need to succeed,” Sen. West said. “College tuition costs are rising, and with current inflation, so are the costs of housing, food, and other necessities. Eliminating hunger on Texas college campuses is critical to ensure our workforce remains strong and our future leaders thrive.”

Though federal policy severely restricts access to SNAP for college students, Congress made changes to guarantee food assistance for more students during the pandemic. However, this policy will expire when the Public Health Emergency ends in May, and thousands of students could lose their SNAP benefits at recertification.

“A simple change in policy would allow low-income students in vocational and technical degree programs to access SNAP while they pursue their educational goals,” Rep. Walle said. “Improving short-term food assistance would help thousands of Texas students along their path to economic self-sufficiency. This legislation is a win-win and makes good business sense for Texas.”