East Texas Food Bank recognizes Hunger Hero Award recipients

Tyler, TX-The East Texas Food Bank (ETFB) honored three recipients today with a Hunger Hero Award as part of Hunger Action Month.

Community Partner - Linden Methodist Church Pastor Kara Mitchell with Linden Methodist Church received a Community Partner Hunger Hero Award.

“The dedicated volunteers with Linden Methodist Church have contributed hundreds of hours in support of the ETFB Mobile Pantry Program,” said Kim Morris, Chief Impact Officer, with the East Texas Food Bank. “Pastor Kara Mitchell cultivated a passionate team of service-minded individuals from her congregation who, rain or shine, distributed fresh produce to neighbors in Cass County. Their record high for a single distribution reached an incredible 547 households, with their monthly average ranging between 328 and 415 households served. Today, the church has transitioned into managing the senior box program and once again Pastor Kara has led with vision and heart, guiding the team through this change and into a new phase of service.”

“Our church supports the ETFB because there is a need, and our faith calls us to do it,” said Pastor Kara Mitchell, with Linden Methodist Church. “According to Galatians 6:10 the Bible says, ‘So then, whenever we have an opportunity, let us work for the good of all, and especially for those of the family of faith.’ Supporting a food bank is a perfect way for our church to meet the needs of our community. It fulfills God’s desire for us to provide compassion, while building connections and providing hope for those in need.”

Community Partner - Shepherd’s Harvest Food Pantry

Pastor Chad Mitchell with Hughes Springs Methodist Church and Shepherd’s Harvest Food Pantry also received a Community Partner Hunger Hero Award.

“A few years after coming on as a pantry partner, they adopted the Hughes Springs senior box distribution,” said Morris. “They have been successfully executing both programs as a model site. They have several volunteers and are a lifeline for the residents in their community. They accepted fighting hunger and feeding hope in a food desert and have provided an oasis to those in need.”

“At Shepherds Harvest Food Pantry, we recognize that we have neighbors in our community that often have to make decisions when prioritizing their needs,” said Pastor Chad Mitchell with Hughes Springs Methodist Church. “It is our hope that by providing assistance with our pantry and through the ETFB Senior Box Program, that we may be the hands and feet of Christ, ministering to the spiritual and physical needs of our neighbors.”

Lifetime Achievement Award

Mark and Nadara Sperry with Westside Church of Christ received the Hunger Hero Lifetime Achievement Award.

The Westside Church of Christ pantry opened in 1999. Today the church provides 3,500 pounds of food on average each month to the people of Texarkana.

“The Sperry’s became involved with the pantry and have helped guide and shape it into its current form,” said Morris. “They have a huge volunteer base of 50 dedicated community members from multiple churches and have made great strides to serve this unique border city. Their contributions and tireless efforts have been instrumental in their continuing success.”

“We first volunteered in the pantry 20 years ago because we firmly believed that Jesus wanted us to share what He had given us,” said Nadara Sperry. “We have continued to work because of the many stories from the grateful people who receive boxes each month. They have told us repeatedly that a monthly box of food makes a significant difference in their lives.”

ETFB presented the awards during Feeding America’s Hunger Action Month, held each year in September, to inspire the community to take action and bring attention to hunger in East Texas and the nation.

According to Feeding America’s Map the Meal Gap study, 1 in 5 East Texans including 1 in 4 children are hungry. This amounts to 235,670 adults including 80,370 children.

About the East Texas Food Bank

Established in 1988, the East Texas Food Bank is the largest hunger-relief nonprofit in East Texas, covering 26 counties. ETFB provides over 34 million meals each year to 200 partner agencies and feeding programs. Our mission is to fight hunger and feed hope in East Texas. For more information, visit East-TexasFoodBank.org