Church of Jesus Christ Lends Support to Little Elm Area Food Bank
Shauna Erickson
Challenges are a familiar companion in the daily course of supporting communities, but no challenge is as repetitive and unrelenting as hunger. Storms come and go, but hunger among some residents is ever-present.
That was clearly apparent to Dwayne Brawner, pastor of the Aubrey Country Church in Aubrey, Texas. Though he serves on the board of The Hope Food and Clothing Ministry in Aubrey, he could see that the need was ever-increasing in surrounding communities.
To that end, the Little Elm Area Food Bank (LEAFB) was established to meet the needs of Little Elm, Hackberry, Lakewood Village, Oak Point, and Cross Roads. Brawner now serves as executive director of that center as well.
In any given year, 35% of the clients served are children. In addition, many are among the ranks of senior citizens on fixed incomes, single parents, the working poor, and a surprising number of veterans.
Last year with the assistance of donors and volunteers, LEAFB was able to provide:
- Over 279,000 meals
- 100% of the expenses for Meals on Wheels within Little Elm
- 11,000 meals for the Summer Kids Eat Free Lunch Program
Tucked away on a nondescript residential street in a clean white building, LEAFB depends on volunteers and donations as its backbone. Over $168,000 in labor costs were furnished by many groups, including members and full-time missionaries of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Little Elm area.
In response to the need, the Church’s Humanitarian arm ordered a 45’ truckload of commodities delivered to North Texas in the Fall of 2019. That semi-truck contained peanut butter, jelly, macaroni and cheese, spaghetti, spaghetti sauce, canned goods of all types, including fruits and vegetables, rice, beans, and other dry goods. The shipment included more than 55,000 pounds of food.
In addition, the organization also awarded LEAFB a $5000 grant, which is still being exchanged for commodities at the Church storehouse in Carrollton, Texas. Those credits have been redeemed for 1440 boxes of macaroni and cheese, 1500 lbs. of frozen chicken breasts, 864 bars of soap, and 1200 boxes of cake mix, among other things.
On a sunny Monday afternoon, the center was buzzing with volunteers stocking shelves and packing family boxes. Debbie (who didn’t want any limelight) has been volunteering at the food bank since 2007. She has seen it through many seasons, including COVID. None of those seasons have decreased the need for nourishment, she offered.
David, a well-groomed, middle-aged man, seemed a bit embarrassed as he made his way through the parking lot. “You know,” he greeted me in passing, “I never dreamed that I would ever need something like this. But here I am. I have finally come to the end of what I can do by myself.” True for so many.
According to Jack Blair, point person for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, a strong bond of friendship has been formed with Dwayne Brawner and LEAFB, hopefully leading to many more years of shared service in making certain that none of our neighbors are going hungry.
