“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.

When times get hard, Teresa can count on you

I really don’t know what I would do if I didn’t have a place like this to turn to. The PATH food pantry in Tyler makes sure my husband and I don’t go hungry.

You see, we’re empty-nesters, but even though we’re only supporting ourselves these days, business is very slow at our small shop right now.

When we don’t get work, we have to come here. I think the colder months are hardest because utility bills go up. Rent, utilities, food to put on the table—those are our biggest expenses.

At the food pantry, we can pick up fruits and vegetables, canned goods, meat, and bread. Then at Thanksgiving, they give you everything you need for dinner: your turkey, your dressing, your sweets. You don’t miss out on anything!

Thank you for helping us get through every night and day. We appreciate you.

You can help more out-of-work neighbors in time for the holidays. Give now and we will put your gift to work right away!

First-time guest takes home food and solace

Maybe you can’t see it because of my mask, but I am all smiles right now!

My name is Delois, and this is the first time I’ve visited the East Texas Food Bank’s drive-through distribution. They just put a big box of food in the trunk and we’re about to head out, but I wanted to tell you first: This food is going to benefit me a lot. It’s just a blessing!

I never needed food assistance before, but between my disability and COVID-19, we were having trouble affording enough food at home.

Thankfully, I found the beautiful people at this place. I can’t even believe how eager they were to give me everything I needed—canned goods and fresh produce, too. What a comfort in this scary time!

Thank you to everybody who’s helping. This is a lot of help to a lot of people!

Kindhearted friends like you have enabled our network of partner agencies and feeding programs—including Delois’s local pantry—to keep up with the tremendous need this year. Thank you for caring!

Celebrating Thanksgiving with “Chef Judy”

When I moved with my kids from Houston to Kilgore, I was hoping we had left hunger behind. However, because I live with a disability, my income is very limited. I can barely pay the rent and other bills.As much as I loved my new community, my family’s struggles with hunger weren’t over. It’s just so hard to buy healthy food because the prices are so high. Turns out, I had moved to a town full of caring neighbors who wanted to help!

The Helping Hands Food Pantry in Kilgore, a partner agency of the East Texas Food Bank, welcomed me with open arms. They made me feel like this pantry exists to serve folks like me, who just need a little help making ends meet. I really appreciate what they’re doing, and I love preparing everything I receive: fresh produce, pasta, meat, and more. Now, I don’t think I’m a good cook—but my son does! I think he might like my Thanksgiving turkey best.

We get one every year at the food pantry. I cook it overnight, and then the next morning it’s real tender—falling off the bone!

Thank you for helping neighbors like Judy at the holidays and all year-round. Due to the pandemic, we’re expecting to serve more families at every single one of our partner agencies and feeding programs this holiday season. Your gift today will provide hearty holiday fare—and hope!