Lufkin, TX: The T.L.L. Temple Foundation awarded a $1 million grant in July to the Houston Food Bank (HFB) for construction of a 15,000 square feet food distribution center and warehouse to support the foundation’s goal of alleviating food insecurity. The distribution center, formerly known as Covenant with Christ International, will become The Trinity River Food Bank (TRFB) and be located in Cleveland, Texas serving Liberty, Trinity, and San Jacinto counties.
“Around 19% of folks living in these counties are food insecure, and with the poverty rate up to 16%, the foundation knew it was important to invest in an organization that would make an impact on people’s lives,” said Wynn Rosser, President and C.E.O. of the T.L.L. Temple Foundation.
As the largest organization providing food assistance and social services in Liberty, Trinity, and San Jacinto counties, the TRFB is uniquely positioned to provide comprehensive resources for individuals in need in the community. To meet these emerging and long-term needs of residents, the newly established TRFB will double its food distribution efforts, expand program offerings for rural residents, and establish a new warehouse that will become the main hub for daily operations. An expanded food pantry, featuring technology upgrades, will also improve clients’ access to nutritious food, meet other direct needs though referrals, and support better health outcomes for thousands of individuals and families in the community. The new and larger facility, with its increased operational and programmatic capacity, will position TRFB as the largest social service provider in the community that offers wrap-around services.
“We are extremely grateful to the T.L.L. Temple Foundation for the generous grant to support the new Trinity River Food Bank, our new Partner Distribution Organization,” says Brian Greene, president/CEO of Houston Food Bank. “There was opportunity and demand to increase much-needed services to counties in this area, and these funds will make that assistance possible and will have a positive impact upon kids, families and senior citizens in these rural areas. We appreciate the T.L.L. Temple Foundation’s investment in our partner and the people they will serve, and we look forward to positive change as a result.”
The project is similar to the Deep East Texas Resource Center in Lufkin, Texas, which the foundation funded last year. TRFB will provide food distribution, offer case management, electrical bill assistance, clothing and hygiene assistance, meal delivery for seniors, signups for Medicare, Medicaid, SNAP, and education and vocational health programs.
In addition to the grant to the HFB, the foundation awarded five grants totaling $2,692,500 during its July board meeting. These grants will support the foundation’s mission to build a thriving rural East Texas while pursuing impact in human services, health, economic opportunity, and education.
About Houston Food Bank: More than 1.1 million people in the 18 southeast Texas counties served by Houston Food Bank are considered food insecure, meaning they lack consistent access to enough nutritious food to fuel a healthy life. In order to address this issue, the Houston Food Bank distributes food and other essentials to those in need through a network of 1,500 community partners. In addition, we also provide programs and services aimed at helping families achieve long-term stability including nutrition education, job training, health management, and help in securing state-funded assistance. For more information, visit www.houstonfoodbank.org.
