Author: Michael Hetrick

“Nothing is better than helping others”

 

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Volunteers are the heart of our work here at the East Texas Food Bank, giving their time each day to help us provide meals to thousands of East Texas families. As we celebrate National Volunteer Appreciation Week, we wanted to share the story of Alpha Berry. Alpha is just one of the thousands of volunteers that help in our mission of fighting hunger and feeding hope.

“Hello, my name is Alpha Berry. I’ve been volunteering at the East Texas Food Bank for about a year. I’m originally from Guinea, West Africa and graduated from UT Tyler with a Bachelor’s Degree in Health Science in May 2020.

Since I didn’t have a job after graduation, and plan to pursue my Masters this summer, I decided to start volunteering here. I actually came to volunteer here a couple of years ago for a class, so I already knew a little bit about the work the food bank does.

I usually volunteer Monday through Thursday in the mornings. They are really wonderful people over here and take care of you. Everyone is so welcoming.

There are so many that are hungry out there, so being here making boxes of food to send out makes me feel good.

I would tell people to make time to volunteer at the East Texas Food Bank. You gain the experience of working, meeting new people and even getting to share experiences with them.  Nothing is better than helping others and there is always a lot to do. They need as many hands as possible to help out.”

We are always looking for great volunteers like Alpha. Click here to find out more and schedule your time to help!

Fresh produce helps Keith’s family in a time of need

For many of our East Texas neighbors who struggle with hunger, the COVID-19 pandemic placed an additional amount of stress on their families and limited budgets. With 1 in 5 East Texans, including 1 in 3 children, facing hunger today, the need for food assistance remains high.

We met Keith recently at one of our drive-thru produce distributions. He shared with us that it was his first time to receive help.

“I’ve been cut back at my restaurant job to bare minimum hours,” Keith said. “I went from 40+ hours a week to 20 to 25 hours. I’m blessed to be working at all, but that really strains my pocketbook.”

Keith lives with his wife and mother at home. Fortunately, none of them had been directly affected by the COVID-19 virus.

“My sister got COVID and several of my church members had it,” he said adding that his sister is much better now. “It was all around me, but we wanted to be especially careful because my mother is 77 years old.”

Keith told us he was very appreciative of receiving the fresh, healthy produce from the distribution, and can’t wait to use it.

“It’s a good thing for people like me who need it,” he said. “I appreciate it. My family appreciates it. Thank you to everyone that makes it possible.”

If you would like to help families like Keith’s that the East Texas Food Bank works to feed each day, you can make a donation online, volunteer with us or host a virtual food drive.

“Fight Hunger. Spark Change.” with Walmart, Sam’s Club

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One in five East Texans, including one in three children, are facing hunger this year due to the ongoing economic fallout from COVID-19. Neighbors in our community are struggling to put food on the table – simply facing this difficult reality for the first time in their lives.

That is why Walmart and Sam’s Club are supporting the Feeding America nationwide network of food banks, including the East Texas Food Bank, through the Fight Hunger. Spark Change. campaign. Now in its eighth year, the campaign has been a way for Walmart and Sam’s Club to partner with suppliers, customers, and members to help provide food to people in need. In fact, last year over 870,000 additional meals were provided to families through the East Texas Food Bank thanks to this campaign!

Fight Hunger. Spark Change.  runs in stores and online from April 5 – May 3, 2021. There are four easy ways for customers and members to participate:

Funds raised through Walmart and Sam’s Club stores in our service area will directly benefit the East Texas Food Bank.

Participating suppliers include: Abbott, Bodyarmor, Bush Brothers & Company, Campbell Soup Company, Clif Bar & Company, Ferrera Candy Company, General Mills, Great Value, Iovate Health Sciences, J.M. Smucker, Kellogg’s, Keurig/Mott’s, Kitu Coffee, Kraft Heinz, Materne North America, Mighty Spark, Monster Energy, PEPSICO, Post Consumer Brands, Purina, Simply Good Foods, Strong Roots, The Coca-Cola Company, The Clorox Company, This Saves Lives, Unilever and United States Nutrition.

7 tips on how to vary your protein routine

 
 


When you think of protein do you think of meat on the grill or crispy chicken? While protein is found in animal sources such as meat, poultry and fish it is also in plant sources such as nuts and seeds, peanut butter, eggs, beans and soy products.

We all need protein. Protein is a macronutrient and one of the building blocks of the human body. It plays a role in bone and muscle growth as well as aids in hormone and molecular reactions in the body. Our bodies need 5 to 7 ounces of protein a day (1 or 2 servings of palm-sized protein at each meal).

Here are 7 tips on how to vary your protein routine:

  1. Variety, variety, variety – Set a goal to have a variety of protein in your diet each week whether it is from animal protein (meat, chicken and fish) or plant protein (eggs, peanut butter, nuts and seeds, beans and soy). Try eating fish a couple of times each week or substitute meat for plant protein such as black beans or lentils. Having a variety guarantees we are benefiting from all protein has to offer!
  2. Select lean meat and poultry – Choose lean cuts of meat like round or sirloin and ground beef that is at least 93% lean. Trim or drain fat from meat and remove poultry skin. To save money, select ground turkey or chicken in place of ground beef.
  3. Keep it tasty and healthy – Try grilling, broiling, roasting, or baking—they don’t add extra fat. Some lean meats need slow, moist cooking to be tender—try a slow cooker for them. Avoid breading meat or poultry, which adds calories.
  4. Think small when it comes to protein portions – Protein is an important nutrient, but we often consume it in large portion sizes. Protein should take up ¼ of your plate, think a deck of cards or the size of your palm when fixing your plate.
  5. Eat plant protein foods more often – Try beans and peas (kidney, pinto, black, or white beans; split peas; chickpeas; hummus) and soy products (tofu, tempeh, veggie burgers). They are lower in saturated fat and some are higher in fiber.
  6. Try nuts and seeds – Nuts and seeds may be small but they pack a healthy punch in our diet! They contain protein, healthy fat, iron and fiber. Nuts and seeds are a concentrated source of calories, so eat small portions to keep calories in check. One serving is a handful or about ¼ cup. Nuts and seeds make a great snack or add-in for a crunch in a salad.
  7. Save with eggs– Eggs can be an inexpensive protein option and part of a healthy eating style. Make eggs part of your weekly choices.

For more healthy tips, follow us on Facebook and find more nutrition education tips and recipes here.  

Deep East Texas Resource Center opens to provide services in Lufkin

The East Texas Food Bank has officially opened its newest program, the Deep East Texas Resource Center, at 105 Lofton St. Lufkin, TX 75904. The goal of DETRC is to augment the good work done by Lufkin’s current food pantries and provide a one-stop-shop of wraparound services with a food pantry, benefits assistance and other support services for families in deep East Texas.

The food pantry will operate Tuesday through Thursday from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. and on Friday from 10:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Families don’t have to live in Lufkin to visit the pantry. (**NEW HOURS AS OF 11/1/2024**)

The food pantry is meant to serve households at or below the Emergency Food Assistance Program income guidelines. Families that are experiencing a crisis may also qualify for short-term food assistance.

No identification or paperwork is required to receive assistance. Clients will be asked for a verbal declaration of their full name, address, number of people in the household, date of birth and monthly income.

There are two COVID-safe options to receive food from the pantry.

  1. CURBSIDE– To limit the amount of contact with volunteers and food pantry staff, clients can park in the parking lot. They will be greeted by a volunteer, who will obtain the following information: Full name, address, number of people in the household, date of birth, and monthly income. Once this is complete, the volunteer will load food into their vehicle.
  2. INSIDE– For clients that would like to choose their food, they can shop inside. Clients will be greeted at the reception desk, where a volunteer will take their temperature and provide them with a mask if needed. Masks will be required to receive food inside. If the temperature is in a safe range, clients will be asked their full name, address, number of people in the household, date of birth and monthly income. After that, they’ll sit in the waiting area for a short time before walking through our food pantry to select food from a range of shelf-stable items, meat, and fresh produce. Grocery carts will be available.

In addition to the food pantry, the DETRC will host nutrition education classes, provide on-site and virtual benefits assistance and provide access to other services such as Texas Workforce Commission and WIC. A list of all programs and services can be found at www.detrc.org.

DETRC was able to open with funding from a grant provided by the T.L.L. Temple Foundation.

If you would like to support DETRC, you can volunteer and donate.