Category: Stories

Being a light in a time of need

My name is Coby, and I’m a salon owner here in Tyler. The coronavirus left me out of work for a time. I was grateful to spend more time with my children to help with their schoolwork, but I also had more time to stress and worry about bills and all the uncertainty. That’s why I decided to volunteer.

I felt like it was a time to be safe, but also a time to help if I could. I saw an ad on TV about East Texas Food Bank providing meals and I immediately called to offer my help.

From talking to people in our community here, I have realized what dark times this is for so many. I hope people see there is a light and that you can help someone in need.

You see the best in people in the worst of times. We’re determined to be part of the best by helping the East Texas Food Bank. I think together, we can help each other get through these difficult times.

We are so grateful to Coby and all our volunteers for being so generous with their time! You have all been a vital part of East Texas recovering and growing stronger through challenging circumstances.

To learn more about how you can volunteer, click here.

Helping seniors stay healthy and thrive

I’m Nadia, and even though I haven’t had coronavirus, it has impacted my day-to-day life. Receiving a food box from the senior delivery program has helped me so much. Before they came with the food box, I was running low on canned goods because I can’t go to pantries right now when I need help.

I work in at-home healthcare, and they don’t want us going into homes right now. I haven’t been able to work like I usually do.

I have diabetes and high blood pressure, so I’m staying home and not visiting my family or grandchildren. It’s very difficult when you are used to working and being out and about.

The food box I’ve received makes such a big difference for me right now. I have rice, canned peaches, peas, corn and more. I’m so appreciative to all the donors that make it possible. Thank you!

Your support is making a difference for seniors like Nadia across the East Texas area. Thank you for helping them have access to the food they need—delivered right to their door!

You’ve helped feed my family at a difficult time

My name is Beth, and I’m a single mom with a 4-year-old son and 2-year-old daughter. My daughter has seizures, to the point where I cannot put her in day care and work, so I stay home to take care of my children. Providing enough food for them every day is a struggle.

When the stay-at-home orders began due to coronavirus, it made getting food even more difficult for us. The store was often out of supplies and even if they had everything, I couldn’t always afford what we needed with rising prices.

My daughter’s health concerns have kept us going back and forth to the doctor a lot recently, and that has been tough. We haven’t really been able to go anywhere else.

Your support helps me put food on the table.

It’s been pretty rough lately, and that’s why I started coming to the East Texas Food Bank drive-thru distributions, and the food boxes we receive here have been very important to us.

A friend suggested this food distribution to me, and I’ve been so grateful. I’m very thankful for everybody that has helped. My son enjoys getting to have the food, and he knows it’s helping us too. Thank you!

Your generosity and compassion mean so much to our East Texas neighbors in need. The food you provide helps families like Beth’s stay healthy and get through a challenging time. Click here to help provide more meals to families like Beth’s.

Three ways we are feeding children during the new school year

School Child with Meal

Schools in East Texas are looking a lot different for students and parents in East Texas due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Difficult decisions are being made about whether to send children to school or keep them at home, learning from a distance. And, of course, we all have questions about what the future holds.

In East Texas today, 1 in 3 children are facing hunger. This includes children who depend on free or reduced meals they would normally be receiving in school. This puts even more pressure on the parents of these children as they question “who is going to feed them during the upcoming months?”

The good news is that the East Texas Food Bank, our partner agencies and Feeding America are working hard preparing to ensure children have the food they need as they return to school, whether that be on campus or virtually.

Here is how we are helping this school year:

  1. BackPack Program – The East Texas Food Bank partners with school throughout our 26 county service area to provide food for children who are at risk of going hungry on weekends and holidays. Our plan is to support 148 school sites with food that children that are enrolled in the BackPack Program can take home for the weekend. We anticipate serving 6,600 children this year. Click here to read more about this program.
  2. Kids Café & Afterschool Snack Program – This program provides free meals and snacks to low-income children through a variety of existing community locations where children gather such as Boys & Girls Clubs, churches or public schools. Our plan is to support 23 sites with snacks and meals for children. Click here to read more about this program.
  3. Curbside Distributions – When schools closed earlier this year, the East Texas Food Bank was able to partner with school campuses to distribute nutritious food to families as they picked up school work and campus meals. Should schools close again, we will be able to help in this capacity once more.

Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, we are continuing to help the children, families and seniors who desperately need our help during this crisis. But we can’t do it without our gratuitous donors and volunteers. You can help support our mission of “fighting hunger and feeding hope” by giving a gift today to the East Texas Food Bank or finding out how to volunteer with us.

Summer Food Program wraps up 16th year of serving meals

The East Texas Food Bank Summer Food Program has wrapped up for the year! The program started in 2005 and serves children under 18 when they no longer have access to free and reduced meal programs at school.

Because of COVID-19, our sites had to change to drive-thru pickup and allow children to take their meals home to eat so ensure social distancing and the safety of staff and families. Despite the temporary changes this year, over 22,600 breakfasts and lunches were distributed at 25 sites throughout East Texas.

“I think we fed more kids this year (with the changes),” said Ellann Johnson Executive Director at HOPE Jacksonville. HOPE Jacksonville is an East Texas Food Bank partner agency. “Parents were relieved they didn’t have to pack up the kids and expose them to any germs or COVID-19.”

This was the first year HOPE Jacksonville had a summer feeding site at their organization, but Johnson said it wasn’t the first time they’ve helped with the program. “We supported the volunteers at Sweet Union Apartments here in Jacksonville in previous years.” she said.

Johnson said kids liked all the meals, but an old standard really stood out. “Just the regular ham and cheese sandwich is their favorite,” she said. Johnson also added that the kids enjoyed the vegetable fruit juices that were available this year.

In addition to providing the summer food meals, HOPE Jacksonville also utilized their kitchen on-site to provide an additional meal to children.

“Kids took away a hot meal and the summer food meal,” Johnson said. “I think that was a big bonus.”

The East Texas Food Bank will continue to serve the over 105,000 children who are facing hunger today in our service area. For more information about our other Child Hunger Programs, click here.

Thank you to all our donors and partner agencies who made this program possible and for providing nutritious children for East Texas children facing hunger!