Longview Dream Center Expanding Services With Food Bank
Lisa Nelson shops for groceries in July at the Longview Dream Centers food pantry.
A more than $200,000 project at the Longview Dream Center would help prepare the facility to become a distribution hub for the Tyler-based East Texas Food Bank.
The Longview Dream Center, at 803 Gilmer Road, provides free food and clothing to community members in need.
A recent building permit application to the city of Longview places the projects construction value at $220,000.
The East Texas Food Bank has given a grant to the Longview Dream Center as part of our strategic plan to invest in our partners to help increase capacity of the neighbors we serve, said Rebecca Berkley, communications and marketing director for the East Texas Food Bank, in an email. The grant is for a new walk-in cooler, dry storage expansion, a new forklift and new van.
She said the grant is for $261,610.
A representative for the Longview Dream Center was not immediately available for comment.
Earlier this year, the East Texas Food Bank had announced the opening of a Longview Resource Center in the former Wesley-McCabe United Methodist Church on Mobberly Avenue.
Berkley said the former church building was found to have structural deficiencies that made upgrades to the facility financially infeasible.
The ETFB plans to open at a different location in Longview, she said.
The new pantry/resource center should open next year, she said.
Whataburger Hosting Food Drive In December
Visit a participating Whataburger location on Tuesday, December 13th from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. and receive a FREE Whataburger with a donation of 3 nonperishable food items. .
Participating locations include:
- 892 US Hwy 271 N, Gilmer, TX 75644
- 311 S Main St, Lindale, TX 75771
- 103 State Hwy 31 W, Chandler, TX 75758
- 2200 N Pacific St, Mineola, TX 75773
- 345 Southwest Loop 323, Tyler, TX 75702
- 12445 State Hwy 64 E, Tyler, TX 75707
- 2215 W Gentry Pkwy, Tyler, TX 75702
- 1739 S Beckham Ave, Tyler, TX 75701
- 1717 S Southeast Loop 323, Tyler, TX 75701
- 6288 US Hwy 271, Tyler, TX 75708
- 5003 Troup Hwy, Tyler, TX 75707
- 630 US Hwy 79 N, Henderson, TX 75652
- 108 N Henderson Blvd, Kilgore, TX 75662
- 6241 Old Hwy 135 N, Kilgore, TX 75662
- 5916 Old Jacksonville Hwy, Tyler TX 75703
- 651 S Doctor M Roper Pkwy, Bullard, TX 75757
- 6849 S Broadway Ave, Tyler, TX 75703
- 16772 FM 2493, Tyler, TX 75703
- 12405 Hwy 155 S, Tyler, TX 75703
- 4825 S Broadway Tyler, TX 75703
Higher Food Prices Worsen Hunger Crisis This Holiday Season
WASHINGTON Staffers at Bread for the City, a venerable charity in the nations capital, thought they were prepared for this years annual pre-Thanksgiving Holiday Helpers food giveaway. The pandemic had faded, but inflation was high, so they budgeted to give out 12,000 meals, 20% higher than normal pre-pandemic levels.
But they were quickly overwhelmed, with long lines of clients waiting hours to receive a free turkey and a $50 debit card for groceries. They were forced to shut down three days early after helping 16,000 people, many more than anticipated.
We dont want to retraumatize our community by having them wait outside four hours for a turkey, said Ashley Domm, the charitys chief development officer. We are not set up to have hundreds of people lined up on a city street.
Bread for the Citys experience reflects a larger dynamic playing out across the country. What many Americans hoped would be the first normal holiday season in three years has instead been thrown into a heightened hunger crisis once again, with Christmas on the horizon.
A estimated that about 1 in 5 adults experienced household food insecurity last summer, about the same as during the first year of the pandemic but a sharp increase from the spring of 2021. Black and Hispanic adults reported higher rates of food insecurity than their white counterparts, according to the report.
His organizations network served about 30% more households in August 2022, compared to the previous August.
Recommended Reading: Tarrant Area Food Bank Mobile Pantry Schedule
Volunteering At The East Texas Food Bank
The East Texas Food Bank relies on volunteers to help us fulfill our mission. Volunteers donated more than 29,000 hours to help us fight hunger by volunteering last year. We welcome all volunteers over the age of 8*, and have a variety of volunteer opportunities available for individuals, families and groups. Read more about our volunteer experience below and register today.
*Minors under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult at all times.
East Texas Cares Resource Center
Food Pantry
East Texas Cares Resource Center has been serving the East Texas area for over 30 years. Our pantry remains to be a source of not only food but empowerment and hope amid despair for all those we serve. At our Pantry, it is our job to ensure every person who walks through our doors is treated with the topmost respect as they receive healthy meals, fresh meats, and fresh produce to prepare for their families. Open Mon-Thurs from 11:00am 2:00pm. Upon your arrival, please ring the doorbell and someone will assist you curbside.We do not turn anyone away who expresses a need for food and can be served at least every 30 days.
Mon – Thur . All other services must call.
- Anderson & Cherokee & Rusk & Smith County
Utility Assistance
PATH helps with metered utilities that are past due and subject to disconnection. We are able to assist once every 12 months with a utility bill. You must be a user on the account and bring your most current bill with you to PATH. This service is only by appointment we are able to help with utility bills until our funding is exhausted. There is a great need for this service and we are only able to help as our funding allows. We run out of funding each month and encourage you to call as soon as you receive a disconnection notice schedule an appointment and to verify our ability to assist. gas, water, electric, bill
Monday-Thursday
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East Texas Food Bank Hosting Drive
An East Texas Food Bank volunteer carries a box during one of the nonprofits free drive-thru produce distributions at the East Texas State Fairgrounds in front of Harvey Convention Center.
- East Texas Food Bank/COURTESY
Volunteers Mark Abernathy and Kevin Howe help distribute food March 12 to families during the East Texas Food Bank drive-thru food event at the Longview Fairgrounds.
- Michael Cavazos/News-Journal File Photo
The East Texas Food Bank will be hosting multiple drive-thru produce distribution in August for community members.
Although things are beginning to go back to normal since the pandemic, there has still been a notable need for food assistance that the East Texas Food Bank is hoping to help combat.
In East Texas alone, 240,000 people are facing hunger, which is equivalent to one in five East Texans and one in four children facing hunger.
The first food distribution in August will be 8 to 10 a.m. Friday at Lindsey Park. Everyone is invited to come to the event, and no eligibility or paperwork is required.
Vehicles with multiple households in them will be allowed. If items need to be picked up for a household that was unable to come, a note must be provided.
This is a drive-thru distribution only and walk-ups will not be accepted.
If food assistance is needed, visit EastTexasFoodBank.org and click the find food tab for a list of resources in your area.
Other drive-thru distribution dates include:
East Texas Food Bank Hosts Holiday Giveaway With Tyler Church
TYLER, Texas – The East Texas Food Bank and Green Acres Baptist Church will have a drive-thru holiday food box distribution.
The event will take place on Nov. 21 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Green Acres Bapitist Church in Tyler .
Holiday food boxes will consist of canned meats, canned vegetables and other holiday staples. Fresh produce will also be available.
This distribution is open to the public. No ID or paperwork is necessary to receive food while supplies last.
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East Texas Food Bank Organiza Un Sorteo Navideo Con La Iglesia De Tyler
TYLER, Texas – El Banco de Alimentos del Este de Texas y la Iglesia Bautista Green Acres tendrán una distribución de cajas de alimentos para las fiestas.
El evento tendrá lugar el 21 de Voviembre de 10 a.m. a 12 p.m. en la Iglesia Bautista Green Acres en Tyler .
Las cajas de alimentos para las festividades consistirán en carnes enlatadas, vegetales enlatados y otros alimentos básicos para las festividades. Los productos frescos también estarán disponibles.
Esta distribución está abierta al público. No se necesita identificación ni papeleo para recibir alimentos hasta agotar existencias.
Copyright 2022 Noticias del Este de Texas via KLTV. Todos los derechos reservados.
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East Texas Food Bank Offering Holiday Food Distribution In Wood County
From the East Texas Food Bank
TYLER, Texas – The East Texas Food Bank will hold a special holiday food distribution that includes meat on Wednesday, December 15th, 10 a.m.-Noon, at Bud Moody Stadium in Quitman. Future monthly distributions will be limited to fresh produce and occur every third Wednesday.
Wood County is like so many other East Texas counties that suffered a lot of hardship, job loss, and more during the pandemic, said Lucy Hebron, Wood County Judge. Our demands for food have increased and we are appreciative of the East Texas Food Bank, that our residents will be able to benefit from the fresh produce. Studies show there is a direct link to good nutrition and health outcomes and we live in an area with high rates of obesity, physical inactivity and poor diets, so the ability to access vegetables and fruits will benefit our residents.
We are so excited to partner with Wood County and offer this special holiday distribution as well as produce distributions in the future, added Dennis Cullinane, CEO of the East Texas Food Bank. Its a sad reality that 1 in 5 East Texans including 1 in 4 children are at risk of hunger but we are making a difference with our feeding programs.
The distribution will take place at the Quitman football stadium parking lot. Please enter on West Side Dr. from Cliff Street. There are no eligibility or ID requirements.
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East Texas Food Bank And Green Acres Partner For Thanksgiving Food Distribution
Raul Rodriguez obtains fresh produce and a Thanksgiving food box on Monday during a mobile pantry distrubution event at Green Acres Baptist Church in Tyler.
- ANA CONEJO/Tyler Morning Telegraph
As early as 6 a.m. Monday, East Texas residents were lined up at Green Acres Baptist Church ready to take home fresh produce and a special holiday food box ahead of Thanksgiving.
The event was part of East Texas Food Banks monthly mobile pantry distribution but also one of the many partnership events conducted within the community. Those who attended received two boxes per household, a fresh produce box with a variety of root vegetables, and a holiday box with canned ham and products for side dishes.
Samuel Sadler, local missions director at Green Acres Baptist Church, said the Thanksgiving distribution partnership is referred to as the Feed Our Friends event, and its an important distribution for the local church.
We try to partner up with our community and to put the word out, especially around the holidays, when we know its a tough time for people especially with inflation thats going on. We just want people to be able to feel safe on our campus and feel loved, and thats what we try to do. Each person that comes here, they are prayed for there at intake and are given information about our church and just why were doing what were doing, he said.
Sadler said the event is more than a distribution event it is also a way for the church to help Tyler thrive as a whole.
List: Food Pantries Available In East Texas
Arp Food Pantry will assist people who are the victims of a man made or natural disaster, such as a fire, tornado, or earthquake.Address is 107 Main StreetArp, Texas 75750
David Powell Community Food PantryLocation is 402 W. HubbardLindale, Texas 75771Call the food pantry at 903-882-8506Most of the items provided by this food pantry are provided on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. A second location of this food bank is at 20131 FM 16 West, Lindale, TX 75771, phone 903-882-7673
Mission of Love Food Pantry MinistryTyler, TX 75702Call: 903-593-5632 for services and intake.
East Texas Food BankTyler, TX 75701Call: 815-3663The non-profit partners with local pantries, churches and soup kitchens. Emergency food and information on government assistance such as SNAP food stamps is available to the public across Smith County, Texas.
Helping Hands of KilgoreKilgore, TX 75662Call: 903-984-1796This location is open for Kilgore residents only. Clothing, limited amounts of help for bills, rent, and other basic needs may be provided.
Love In Deed Food Pantry10344 State Highway 31E
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User Questions And Answers
Answer a question below ONLY IF you know the answerHow do I volunteer?Do you know if I can get food delivered to me?Do I need to make an appointment?How do I make a donation?Can I do my community service hours at this location?Do you have to live in Smith county to receive food?What type of documentation do I need to apply for food?
‘these Arrests Are Just The Beginning’: 21 Charged In Crypto Money Laundering Investigation Initiated In East Texas
United States Attorneys Office for the Eastern District of Texas
According to court documents unsealed on Wednesday, 21 people have been charged for their alleged involvement in money laundering networks that stole millions of dollars from United States fraud victims, thanks to a multi-year operation initaited in East Texas.
U.S. Attorney Brit Featherston of the Eastern District of Texas, William Smarr, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Secret Services Dallas Field Office, and Inspector in Charge Thomas Noyes of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service announced Operation Crypto Runner, an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces investigation into transnational cryptocurrency money laundering networks that facilitate the movement of fraud proceeds from victims in the United States to foreign criminal organizations.
These defendants orchestrated highly organized and sophisticated schemes to launder fraud proceeds through cryptocurrency, Featherston said Wednesday, as a press conference was held in Tyler. Todays announcement sends a clear message that money laundering networks that service fraud schemes targeting American victims, especially the elderly, will not be tolerated, and those operating such networks will be held accountable. By acting as domestic money launderers for foreign co-conspirators, these defendants played indispensable roles that allowed foreign actors to reach from overseas to target victims in communities across the United States.
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Cornyn: Without Changes Respect For Marriage Act Tramples On Religious Liberties
In: All News Posted 11/28/2022
While this bill does not move the needle on same-sex marriage, this legislation will raise serious issues for religious liberty.
“Unlike Obergefell, this legislation expressly empowers private litigants to sue religious institutions, faith-based organizations, and private parties who oppose, for sincerely held religious beliefs, same-sex marriage.”
“If the goal of the bill is to preserve religious liberty, I think the bill needs to be amended. Religious liberty is the cornerstone of our democracy. It’s explicitly protected by the United States Constitution, and we cannot allow it to be trampled on.”
WASHINGTON Today on the floor, U.S. Senator John Cornyn discussed how the Respect for Marriage Act threatens religious liberty and called on Leader Schumer to allow votes on amendments that would protect the rights of those who oppose same-sex marriage. Excerpts of Sen. Cornyns remarks are below, and video can be foundhere.
As the Senate knows, this week we will be voting on a bill called the Respect for Marriage Act. Tonight, well vote on a procedural matter to move that legislation along. Supporters of this legislation have framed it as a way to protect the right of same-sex couples to get married in any state in America. To be clear, that is already the law of the land.
Each of these decisions recognized that religious liberties shall and must be protected as required by our Constitution, namely the Equal Protection Clause.
East Texas Food Bank Hosts Holiday Food Distribution Event In Tyler
TYLER, Texas – Hundreds of cars lined up on the Green Acres Baptist Church campus and down Troup Highway for the East Texas Food Banks holiday food box distribution in Tyler.
The East Texas Food Bank is making sure families have food on their table ahead of Thanksgiving. Communications and Marketing Director Rebecca Berkley said they continue to see long lines at their mobile pantry distributions.
The need is huge, even compared to the pandemic, Berkley said. The prices in the grocery stores that were all seeing is impacting a lot of people, and we are seeing people that have never been in line before. You are seeing middle-class families who just need a little extra help.
Volunteers with Green Acres Baptist Church helped guide cars through their campus to get them to volunteers who were packing boxes into cars. Raul Rodriguez was seen packing produce into a basket on his bicycle. He said he was getting food for his clients.
I take care of three clients, and I go to the store for them. I heard that theyre giving away free boxes, and I said, well, I get me one too, Rodriquez said. Prices of groceries are too high. Some people cant afford it.
Berkley said they anticipated being able to help more than 12,000 people. Inside the boxes were ham, green beans, macaroni and cheese and other holiday staples. They also had fresh produce in another box.
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