ETFB responds to federal funding cuts for food banks

From David Emerson, East Texas Food Bank Chief Executive Officer:
“The East Texas Food Bank has been notified that several truckloads of previously expected food from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will not be delivered. This food equates to 360,000 pounds valued at $750,000.

In addition, the Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement Program or LFPA of the East Texas Food Bank will incur a loss of 756,000 pounds of produce valued at $121,000. This program helps to purchase food produced in the state to support local and regional producers.

If funding continues to be cut, this could severely restrict our ability to meet current demand. In fiscal year 2024, the East Texas Food Bank provided 31 million meals. This year we are on track to serve over 33 million meals this fiscal year.

Currently 1 in 6 East Texas adults including 1 in 4 children are food insecure.

Please advocate for ETFB by calling your local Congressional leaders, signing up for a volunteer shift or consider a donation to fund our operations.”

Walmart and Sam’s Club Fight Hunger. Spark Change Campaign Returns to East Texas to Help People Facing Hunger

For the 12th straight year, all U.S. Walmart stores and Sam’s Club locations are launching the Fight Hunger. Spark Change. campaign, including right here in East Texas.

The goal of the annual cause marketing campaign is to provide people facing hunger with access to the food and resources they say they need to thrive. Here’s how it works:

The campaign will run in stores and online from March 1-March 31, with three ways for shoppers to participate:

– By donating at check-out in stores or clubs or round up at Walmart.com and the Walmart app.

– By purchasing participating products* in-store or online at Walmart.com or SamsClub.com. For every purchase of a participating product, the supplier will donate the monetary equivalent** of at least one meal ($0.10) on behalf of a Feeding America partner food bank at Walmart and five meals ($0.50) at Sam’s Club, up to applicable limits. See specially marked packages for full details.

– By donating at Feeding America’s Fight Hunger. Spark Change. campaign donation site at either www.feedingamerica.org/walmart or www.feedingamerica.org/samsclub

Since its inception in 2014, the campaign has generated more than $206 million and helped secure 2 billion meals* for the Feeding America® network of local food banks.

Everyone needs nutritious food to thrive, and in every community in America, people are working hard to provide for themselves and their families. Yet in 2023, 47.4 million people—1 in 7 people—experienced food insecurity in the U.S.

Those are the highest numbers in a decade, underscoring the need for more charitable food assistance in East Texas and beyond.

“For the past 20 years, Feeding America, Walmart and Sam’s Club have worked together to fight hunger and help people live better in the communities we serve,” said Julie Gehrki, president, Walmart Foundation and senior vice president, philanthropy at Walmart. “During the Fight Hunger. Spark Change. campaign, we invite our customers and members to join us in providing access to food for our neighbors by supporting the East Texas Food Bank.”

The 24 participating suppliers for Walmart include: B&G Foods, Inc., Bush Brothers & Company, Celsius, The Coca-Cola Company, Conagra Foods, Dole Packaged Foods, LLC, Ferrero USA, General Mills, Hershey Salty Snacks, Kellanova, Keurig Dr. Pepper, Kodiak, Kraft Heinz, Lipton Tea, Ben’s Original, Materne, Mondelez International, Olipop, Pepsi-Cola Advertising & Marketing, Inc., Hidden Valley Original Ranch, The Hain Celestial Group, WK Kellogg Co, Unilever and Utz Quality Foods

The six participating suppliers for Sam’s Club include: Kellanova, Kodiak, Kraft Heinz, General Mills, Nestlé and Unilever

For more information, visit: feedingamerica.org/campaigns/fight-hunger-spark-change

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

** For every purchase of a participating product, the supplier will donate the monetary equivalent of at least one meal ($0.10) on behalf of a Feeding America partner food bank at Walmart and five meals ($0.50) at Sam’s Club, up to applicable limits. See specially marked packages for full details.

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About Feeding America
Feeding America is committed to an America where no one is hungry. We support tens of millions of people who experience food insecurity to get the food and resources they say they need to thrive as part of a nationwide network of food banks, statewide food bank associations, food pantries and meal programs. We also invest in innovative solutions to increase equitable access to nutritious food, advocate for legislation that improves food security and work to address factors that impact food security, such as health, cost of living and employment. We partner with people experiencing food insecurity, policymakers, organizations, and supporters, united with them in a movement to end hunger. Visit FeedingAmerica.org to learn more.

Walmart
Walmart Inc. (NYSE: WMT) is a people-led, tech-powered omnichannel retailer helping people save money and live better — anytime and anywhere — in stores, online, and through their mobile devices. Each week, approximately 255 million customers and members visit more than 10,500 stores and numerous eCommerce websites in 19 countries. With fiscal year 2024 revenue of $648 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 corporate.walmart.com, on Facebook at facebook.com/walmart, on X (formerly known as Twitter) at twitter.com/walmart, and on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/company/walmart.

Sam’s Club
Sam’s Club, the $86 billion division of Walmart Inc. (NYSE: WMT), is a membership club that is pioneering the retail experience, providing exclusive access to value, convenience and modern omnichannel shopping options to millions of members in 600 clubs across the U.S. and Puerto Rico. With over 40 years of innovating in the category, Sam’s Club continues to redefine club membership shopping with its curated assortment of quality fresh food and Member’s Mark® items, in addition to market leading technologies and services like Scan & Go™️, curbside pickup and home delivery. Visit the Sam’s Club Newsroom, shop at SamsClub.com or connect with Sam’s Club on LinkedIn, X, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Pinterest.

East Texas Food Bank receives 42,000 pounds of food from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints

Forty-two thousand pounds of mixed goods were delivered to the East Texas Food Bank on Wednesday, February 12, 2025. The food, amounting to 25 pallets, was donated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

East Texas Food Bank (ETFB) has a 26-county service area and operates multiple resource centers and 29 mobile pantries throughout the region. According to ETFB, 1 in 6 East Texans faces hunger, including 1 in 4 children. ETFB provides more than 31 million meals annually to 200 partner agencies and feeding programs.

The donation from the Church is part of its ongoing global effort to help individuals struggling with urgent temporal concerns by addressing immediate hunger needs, supporting improved nutrition, and promoting long-term food security. The donation of mixed canned and boxed goods will include vegetables, chili, fruit, beef, peanut butter, dried milk, and numerous other items.

Each year, the Church participates in hundreds of food and nutrition projects worldwide as part of its “Caring for Those in Need” initiatives. Most of these humanitarian projects are done with trusted partners, such as ETFB, which allows the Church to use its resources where they can do the greatest good.

ETFB was selected based on its connection with the community, ongoing relief efforts, focused leadership, organized processes, and adequate unloading equipment. In addition, it was important for the Church to select a food bank serving smaller, rural food banks. The ETFB aids several smaller pantries and feeding programs throughout the region.

“We are thrilled to receive this incredible donation of food from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints,” said David Emerson, CEO of the ETFB. “This high-quality food will go a long way in serving our neighbors in East Texas especially during the winter months when many of the people we serve are struggling with bills.”

The Church and the ETFB have developed a positive relationship in the community, as adults, missionaries, and youth groups from the Church regularly volunteer.

“We wholeheartedly support the East Texas Food Bank’s mission to fight hunger and food insecurity among our neighbors,” said John Ketcher, a Church leader in the Tyler Texas Stake. “We collaborate in spreading hope through acts of kindness because we love Jesus Christ. We know this is what He would do if He were here.”

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints focuses on relieving suffering, fostering self-reliance, and providing opportunities for service for people around the world regardless of religion, nationality, or race. The Church encourages its members to be generous with their time and resources in any way they can.

East Texas Food Bank Announces New Director of Organizational Engagement

The East Texas Food Bank has hired Starla Bickerstaff as the new Director of Organizational Engagement.

Bickerstaff has extensive experience in East Texas in retail management, manufacturing marketing, advertising management, and healthcare marketing.

She has a Bachelor of Business Administration in Management from the University of Texas at Tyler. She has worked as a volunteer with several groups including the American Heart Association Go Red for Women executive leadership team and For the Silent, Women of Hope- served on their fundraising team.

Bickerstaff is currently a member on the Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce Board and previously served as chair of the Membership Services/Contact Club Committee. She was honored as Volunteer of the Year by the chamber in 2023. She has also served on the board of the Lufkin Chamber of Commerce and the Winnie Berry Humane Society of Angelina County.

“We’re thrilled to have Starla join the East Texas Food Bank family,” said Tim Butler, chief development officer. “Her passion and heart for the East Texas community is a perfect fit for our team.”

A lifelong resident of East Texas, Bickerstaff is married with one child and has a strong passion for serving her community. She is eager to continue making a positive impact through her work with the East Texas Food Bank.