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Houston Food Bank receives $25,000 donation from Woodforest Charitable Foundation.

12-April, 2012

Houston Food Bank receives $25,000 donation from Woodforest Charitable Foundation.

Photo Caption:From left to right – Vicki Richmond, Secretary & Treasurer, Woodforest Charitable Foundation; Kim Marling, Executive Director & Vice President of Woodforest Charitable Foundation; David Chaney, Director of Corporate & Foundation Giving, Houston Food Bank; U.S. Congressman Kevin Brady; Dr. David Gottlieb, Board of Directors, Woodforest Charitable Foundation.

HOUSTON, Texas - Woodforest Charitable Foundation donates $25,000 to the Houston Food Bank.

Now operating from a new, 308,000 square-foot facility, the Houston Food Bank is the nation’s largest size Feeding America food bank and source of food for hunger relief charities in 18 southeast Texas counties. They have been named one of 10 Top-Notch Charities across the nation by Charity Navigator. The Houston Food Bank, founded in 1982, is a certified member of Feeding America, the nation’s food bank network. The organization plans to grow to an annual distribution of 100 million nutritious meals by 2018.

A network of 500 food pantries, soup kitchens, senior centers and other agencies, feeding a total of 137,000 people each week, provides 50 million nutritious meals annually. Fresh produce, meat and nonperishables are distributed from the new warehouse at 535 Portwall, and hot meals are prepared and distributed from a 15,000 square-foot industrial kitchen.  Additional community services range from nutrition education to assistance with food stamp applications and hands-on job training. Red Barrels offer a convenient way for grocery shoppers to donate nonperishables for their neighbors in need.

In addition to distributing food and other needed supplies to nearly 500 southeast Texas hunger relief programs, the Houston Food Bank provides nutrition education,  job training and food to children who might not otherwise get a nourishing hot meal during the day.

Many children who rely on free or reduced-priced lunches during the school year go home to meager or no meals on weekends. The Houston Food Bank’s Backpack Buddy program works to fill that gap. On Fridays, at participating schools and other locations, children take home child-friendly, nonperishable, easily consumed and vitamin-fortified food in discreetly packed backpacks.

“We would like to thank the Woodforest Charitable Foundation for their recent gift to the Houston Food Bank in support of our Backpack Buddy Program. Your generosity ensures we are able to continue providing needed focus to hungry families, children and seniors now and throughout the New Year,” said Brian Greene, President & CEO of Houston Food Bank.

For more information on Woodforest Charitable Foundation’s contributions to this organization, please contact this agency directly at (713) 223-3700 or visit www.houstonfoodbank.org.

The Woodforest Charitable Foundation was created by Woodforest National Bank in 2005 as a direct result of its desire to support and invest in the communities in which it serves.  The Foundation is creating a legacy of commitment to those in need, enriching lives and communities through dedicated leadership and faithful administration by providing funding to qualifying 501(c) (3) charities. For additional information regarding The Woodforest Charitable Foundation, call (832) 375-CARE (2273) or visit the foundation’s website at www.woodforestcharitablefoundation.org.

Celebrating 32 years of service and ranked among the top earning banks in the United States, the Woodforest family of banks currently has assets of approximately $3.7 billion and services more than 1 million customers with branches in excess of 780 throughout 17 states:  Texas, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Virginia and West Virginia.  For information about Woodforest National Bank, please call k832-375-2000 or visit the bank’s website at www.woodforest.com.