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05/15/2012 by Salo Otero | Comments (0)
The power of the volunteer. And so it is with the South Texas Food Bank. Case in point. The South Texas Food Bank’s recent city-wide bucket brigade fundraiser at seven Laredo street corners for its mission of feeding the hungry. The KGNS-TV-sponsored Saturday morning (April 28) event was blessed with beautiful weather and the No. 1 blessing of all – volunteers. About 60 showed willing to put in between one and four hours of volunteerism. The result:, $5,000 in the food bank coffers to help the locally-funded programs – Adopt a Family, Kids Cafes and emergency bags.
Without the volunteer, it could not happen. An infinite amount of “thank yous” to the likes of E. Garcia, H. Zapata, J. Quiroz, S. Benavides, C. Cuevas and 50-plus others on behalf of the 500 families who receive a supplemental bag of food per month, the almost 1,000 children who eat an afterschool meal Monday through Friday at 15 Kids Cafes, and the 100 monthly who pick up an emergency bag on immediate need basis.
Because of difficult economic times, the demand for food product to the needy continues to increase. In case you missed the bucket brigade, tax deductible donations can be mailed to the South Texas Food , 1907 Freight, Laredo, Texas, 78041. The STFB is open Monday through Friday 8 to noon and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday, 8 a.m. to noon. The telephone number is (956) 726-3120, website www.southtexasfoodbank.org and also on twitter and facebook. Through the Feeding America and Texas Food Bank Network, every dollar contributed is converted into eight meals, 10 pounds of food or $17 of groceries.
Of course, volunteers are always welcome. In fact, employee groups from Target, Walmart, Killam Oil and Best Buy were recent participants packaging food in the processing room of the South Texas Food Bank. Hats off, big thumbs up and many shout outs to THE VOLUNTEER.
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05/15/2012 by Salo Otero | Comments (0)
Bucket brigades on Laredo street corners are plentiful as fundraisers for different organizations. The South Texas Food Bank recently has its first bucket brigade in almost five years. All money stays in Laredo to help the daunting STFB mission of feeding the hungry.
A few words to share a couple of stories about that Saturday morning on the corner of Shiloh and McPherson. A lot of people today don’t seem to carry much cash anymore, or so they say. It’s debit or credit card. Our comment was, “Next year, maybe we’ll have a mobile credit-debit machine.” It would be to maximize our money raised.
But in the meantime our plea was, “Got any spare change?”
Yes, they did.
Motorists emptied their car trays and pockets. The individual collections amounted from three cents to $20. Most dropped in their usual $1 bill. “Thank you, you just bought 8 meals for our Kids Cafes,” was the rallying cry most heard to the dollar donors. Knowing that, a man reached deeper, “In that case, here’s $5.”
One lady, approached as she pumped gas at the corner station, lamented, “I can’t give you anything. My husband just lost his job this week.” The South Texas Food Bank employee handed the woman his business card and said, “Maybe we can help you down the road. Call us, my cell number is in the back.” Before driving off, she grabbed all the coins in her car’s ash tray and made her donation. In a short time, she went from telling her story; in her eyes, not being able to give; a potential food bank client and finally, a donor.
A man carrying a backpack was walking past the corner where South Texas Food Bank volunteers had water, soft drinks and snacks for a hot-weather day . The man seemed homeless and on a journey somewhere. He did not stop to ask for water or food, even though he saw both in plain sight. He was asked if he wanted water and snacks. He accepted and continued on his way with a “thank you” and a huge gleam on his face.
These scenarios depict the plight of our residents from the driver of that nice car to the one walking in our midst.
(Editor’s note: The South Texas Food Bank distributes supplemental food to 25,000 families, 7,000 elderly, 6,000 children, 500 veterans and their widows in an eight-county area. It is located at 1907 Freight at Riverside, Laredo, Texas, 78041, open Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 5 and can be reached at (956) 726-3120, website www.southtexasfoodbank.org and on twitter and facebook).
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05/01/2012 by Salo Otero | Comments (0)
The Laredo-based South Texas Food Bank hosted a one-day conference on April 24 at the IBC Annex on Jacaman Road for the more than 80 affiliated agency members who help distribute food to carry the STFB mission of feeding the hungry in eight counties from Rio Grande City to Del Rio. More than 10 agency coordinators and assistants attended the annual event.
STFB agency director Elia Solis called the conference, “A great success. This was our mandatory conference-workshop in cooperation with USDA and Feeding America. With poverty rate at 30-plus percent and difficult economic times, the need in our service area is huge.” The STFB receives product from USDA through membership in the Texas Food Bank Network and national Feeding America. Alfonso Casso Jr. is the food bank executive director. Representatives from Webb, Zapata, Jim Hogg, Starr, Dimmitt, Maverick, Val Verde and Kinney Counties attended.
The conference included presentations by Lee Pipkin, director of food resources Texas Food Bank Network and J.C. Dwyer, TFBN state policy director on advocacy for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly food stamps). Local presenters are Elizabeth Luna on 2-1-1 Texas; Gigi Ramos, Volunteers Serving the Need, on recruiting, training and retaining volunteers; Pastor Lucy DeLeon, New Vision Community Church, on “more than just a food bag” and Dr. Jesse Olivares, STFB chief operations officer, on civil rights.
Pastor Lucy and Ramos gave passionate talks about their involvement with the South Texas Food Bank and how to encourage others to join the mission.
South Texas Food Bank programs were highlighted by staffers Solis, TexCap; Eugenio Armendariz, Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP); Alma Blanco, SNAP; and Ellie Reyes, Kids Café. Also, Leo de la Garza and Pancho Farias on food sourcing ; Cindy Liendo Espinoza and Salo Otero, fundraising; and Olivares, on transportation.
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04/16/2012 by Salo Otero | Comments (0)
One of Laredo’s most popular musical groups, Ross and Friends, have a return engagement at Hal’s Landing Restaurant and Bar. It is a fundraiser to benefit the South Texas Food Bank mission of feeding the hungry. The event is on Tuesday May 8 from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. at the popular north Laredo nightspot next to the Laredo Energy Arena on 6510 Arena Blvd. Hal’s Landing proprietors Tom and Marianne Lamont, who also help other Laredo non-profits throughout the year, sponsor the music. The admission price of $10 per person goes to the South Texas Food Bank, which distributes supplemental food to 25,000 families per month, including 7,000-plus elderly, 6,000-plus children and 500 veterans and their widows. Also, there will be raffle items that include gift certificates. Tickets are available by calling 324-2432.
“We are blessed to have the Lamont Family as advocates to our very important mission,” said Cindy Liendo Espinoza, South Texas Food Bank chief development officer. “The numbers of people we help is just staggering.” Ms. Lamont added, “We are just trying to do our part to help in these difficult economic times and the South Texas Food Bank certainly is one of the organizations that affects the biggest crosssection of Laredoans.”
Laredoan Ross Swisher and his group entertained at a similar South Texas Food Bank-Hal’s Landing event one year a go. “We had a very good time then and are expecting the same again,” Swisher said. “We love to support charities, especially the food bank.”
Swisher, a graduate of St. Joseph Academy, started a musical group of teenage friends in 1969. It evolved into Ross and Friends, a group who plays music from the 1950s to the present. One observer noted, “They do a great job of entertaining. People have a good time when Ross and Friends are on the program.”
Ross, who sings and plays guitar, is joined by Carlos Longoria on bass, Rick Rios on drums, Ramiro Lopez, keyboard and most recently the comeback of vocalist T.J. Ruiz. Swisher said of Ruiz, “I call him the Davy Jones (the late Monkees singer) of Laredo because of his size and talent. I’ve known him since 1968. He has rejoined us and everybody is excited.”
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03/16/2012 by Salo Otero | Comments (0)
The South Texas Food Bank is now distributing supplemental food to 25,000-plus families per month.
The all-time annual high was reached in 2011 averaging 24,000 families per month. And 2012 has started with an even higher figure of 25,460 families served in January. The total includes 19,225 children, 37,745 adults and 62,384 meals served.
Also, almost one million pounds of product was distributed in February. The 920,280 pounds is the highest February total in the last six years. The previous high was 822,211 pounds in 2010. In the first two months of 2012, the food bank’s figure is 1.806 million pounds. The STFB distributed 9.70 million pounds in 2011 following a record 12.42 million pounds in 2010.
The totals were part of a report by STFB executive director Alfonso Casso Jr. at the monthly board meeting March 14 at Commerce Bank. Casso also noted program numbers – 485 bags distributed via adopt-a-family; 7,113 served in the Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP), mostly for elderly; 342 SNAP Outreach applicants representing 474 adults, 543 children; 692 children served 14,532 meals at 15 Kids Café sites; and 75 walk-in bags, representing 133 adults and 100 children. “We’ve been fortunate to have food coming in,” Casso said. “And the need continues to grow. Food is distributed to the unemployed, under employed and those living on fixed incomes.’’
The STFB elected officers for 2012. Kevin Romo, State Farm Insurance agent, was re-elected board president and Annie Zuniga Dodier, retired educator, was re-elected vice president. Other officers are Erasmo Villarreal, secretary; Ed Shewood, treasurer; and Tano Tijerina, historian.