EAST TEXAS FOOD BANK RECEIVES 42,000 POUNDS OF FOOD FROM THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS

Featured Photo: Julie Poole, Melissa McKneely, Jill Taylor, Dennis Cullinane, Donna Spann, and Sam Anderson together in front of 42,000 lb donation, the first of donation to Texas from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints this year. There are plans for two more deliveries of this size to Austin and North Texas. Photo courtesy of Jill Taylor.

TYLER—Forty-two thousand pounds of mixed goods were delivered to The East Texas Food Bank on Wednesday, June 3, 2020, at 9:00 a.m. The 25 pallets of food were donated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

The East Texas Food Bank has organized a tremendous relief effort to assist those affected by COVID-19 including weekly drive-thru services, food box delivery programs, working with the Texas Army National Guard, and aiding hundreds of families throughout East Texas. According to the East Texas Food Bank, they provided 2.5 million meals (49% increase from 2019) to over 46,000 families (75% increase from 2019) just in the month of April.  

“Before the health crisis hit, we were already facing a hunger crisis with one in five East Texans, including one in four children, facing hunger,” said Lauren Barnes, Communications and Marketing Director at East Texas Food Bank. “Due to COVID-19, Feeding America is anticipating the need to grow to about one in four East Texans, including one in three children.”

The donation from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is part of its ongoing global effort to address the immediate needs that have been amplified in many communities due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The donation of mixed canned and boxed goods included vegetables, chili, fruit, beef, dried milk, as well as numerous other items.

To date, the Church has approved over 110 COVID-19 relief projects in 57 countries. This is the first delivery in Texas this year, with other large-scale donations planned for North Texas and Austin. Most of these humanitarian projects are done with trusted partners, such as The East Texas Food Bank, which allows the Church to use its resources in places where they can do the most good. 

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The East Texas Food Bank was selected based on its connection with the community, ongoing relief efforts, fantastic leadership, organized processes, and adequate unloading equipment. Because 25 pallets of food are scheduled for delivery on a 53-foot trailer, the selected site also needed space to store all of the goods. In addition, it was important for the Church to select a food bank that also serves smaller, rural food banks without high charges or delivery fees. The East Texas Food Bank has a 26-county service area and aids several smaller banks throughout the region.

“As the state begins to reopen, it’s important to remember that we were facing a hunger crisis before the pandemic and will be facing one long after and it takes the whole communities’ support to continue to feed our neighbors in need,” said Barnes.

The East Texas Food Bank received the donation and unloaded the pallets efficiently. Looking on was Dennis Cullinane, CEO of East Texas Food Bank as well as Donna Spann, Chief Development Officer.

In a recent press conference, Cullinane said Texas is ranked seventh in food insecurity in the country and we have the second-highest population with food insecurity. The food bank had a timely visit from Feeding America, in which they said they are trying to strengthen their network and share their secrets about how to help relieve hunger across the country.

The Church and the East Texas Food Bank have developed a positive relationship in the community, as full-time missionaries from the church volunteer on a weekly basis. Four missionaries were also there to observe the donation.

President Daren Yeager, an ecclesiastical leader in the Tyler Texas Stake of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, present for the delivery and told reporters that as a church they are “striving to follow the example of our Savior who said to feed the hungry.”

Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints throughout the world endeavor to follow the Savior’s admonition to feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, take in the stranger, clothe the naked and visit the sick and those in prison (see Matthew 25:35–36). Millions of people have benefited from temporal and spiritual assistance through humanitarian and welfare donations. 

Names and titles for those present and in photos:
Dennis Cullinane, CEO East Texas Food Bank
Donna Spann, Chief Development Officer East Texas Food Bank
Sam Anderson, Communications Director for the Tyler Texas Stake of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Jill Taylor, Media Relations for the Tyler Texas Stake of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Julie Poole, Welfare & Self-Reliance Services, Dallas/Fort Worth/Austin for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Melissa McKneely, Communication Specialist, Dallas Texas Coordinating Councils for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Volunteer Missionaries for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints