EAST TEXAS FOOD BANK RECEIVES FOOD DONATION FROM CHURCH AFTER DEADLY WINTER STORM

Featured Photo, left to right: Sam Anderson, Tyler Texas Stake Communications Director Dennis Culliane, CEO East Texas Food BankDaren Yeager, First Counselor Tyler Texas Stake Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Photo by Jill Taylor. 

TYLER—Forty-two thousand pounds of mixed goods were delivered to The East Texas Food Bank, located at 3201 Robertson Road on Wednesday, February 24^th at 3:00 pm. The 25 pallets of food weighing more than 42,000 pounds are being donated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to help aid those impacted by the recent winter storm that left millions of Texans without power and water.

The East Texas Food Bank has a 26-county service area and aids several smaller banks throughout the region. This donation will be a great asset to communities throughout East Texas trying to recoup from the harsh winter storm. Half of the load will be transferred to Harvest Regional Food Bank in Texarkana.

The donation from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is part of its ongoing global effort to care for the hungry. The Church is committed to serving smaller, rural communities that may have difficulty getting food due after a week of employment constraints, rolling blackouts, and water issues.

“We are pleased that five trucks are coming to Texas,” says Melissa McKneely, Communications Coordinator in East Dallas for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. “Four deliveries of food and one of water will arrive by the end of the week, all to be given to various food pantries and agencies.” Food trucks are headed to McKinney, Tyler, and Nacogdoches. Water is arriving in Longview.

This donation to East Texas Food Bank will help aid those in need of the basic necessities. There have been reports of grocery stores short-staffed and working to put food back on the shelves, following winter delays. The donation of mixed canned and boxed goods will include vegetables, chili, fruit, beef, peanut butter, dried milk, as well as numerous other items. 

These struggles Texans face may also be amplified in many communities due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Just two weeks ago, The East Texas Food Bank held a drive-thru distribution in Tyler, Longview, and Lufkin in preparation for the storm. They have had several drive-thru distributions, and this storm magnifies an already alarming need to feed East Texans.

To date, the Church has approved more than 100 relief projects in more than 50 countries.  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.  

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.

President Charles Rhodus, who leads the Tyler Texas Stake of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, commented on the value of the East Texas Food Bank’s work in the community.

“In following Christ’s example of Jesus Christ in caring for those in need we are grateful for the opportunity to help our neighbors during this time of crisis. The challenges of lost wages and deficiencies in commodities can come to any of us during unforeseen events. We are blessed to ease the burdens of those most affected at this time. We are blessed in Tyler with the opportunity to partner with wonderful organizations like the East Texas Food Bank.”