East Texas Food Bank unveils Volunteer and Nutrition Education Center

Volunteers of the East Texas Food Bank can officially spend less time avoiding forklift traffic and more time helping the organization serve those in need throughout the region.

On Thursday evening, the nonprofit held a grand opening celebration where it unveiled its new Volunteer and Nutrition Education Center to donors and special guests.

The $3 million project — titled “More Space. More Meals” — provides facilities for volunteers, space for nutrition education, and is an expansion of the cold dock area and an improvement of existing warehouse storage capacity.
(Read more from Tyler Morning Telegraph)

East Texas Giving Day to be held April 30

Save the date. East Texas Giving Day (ETGD), an 18-hour online event that provides critical funding for area non-profits, is set for Tuesday, April 30.

East Texas Communities Foundation partners with area non-profits annually and provides citizens across a 32-county service area an easy platform to support the mission of local non-profits that serve the communities.
(Read more from the Cherokeean Herald)

East Texas Food Bank donated food and supplies to residents in Alto

The Alto Food Bank received a donation of food from the East Texas Food Bank.

Alberta Pope has little to no food in her home, due to the storms that impacted Alto.

“We lost a little food because our lights and electricity was off, and we couldn’t cook, and my deep freezer … it was kind of cold but still I lost some of my food in there. I just thank God for the food pantry and everything and we can come down here and get some food,” said Pope.

Her sister Bertha Pope was also impacted, but says she is thankful for all of the support they have received.
(Read more from KTRE 9)

East Texas Food Bank strives for Hunger Free East Texas

Imagine how you would react if you were volunteering at a food pantry when a family walked in with their little girl in tow, and as they entered, another volunteer gave the little girl an apple.  Now, imagine your feelings watching that little girl take the apple and turn to her mother asking, “Is it my day to eat?”
(Read more from Tyler Today)

Food pantry delivers healthy options

Helping Hands of Kilgore is helping locals make healthy food choices with the public pantry’s monthly Produce Drops.

The food pantry teams up with the East Texas Food Bank to distribute fresh fruit and vegetables to the community once a month and the event draws dozens to the charity at 201 S. Martin St. The Produce Drops have been a regular occurrence at Helping Hands for nearly four years, said Executive Director Ursula Plaisance, and Monday’s drop was well-attended.

“Yesterday there were about 90 (people),” Plaisance said. “The cold kind of deters some but that’s still a good turnout.”
(Read more from Kilgore News Herald)