rio grande valley...rio grande valley thank you for helping hungry children this summer! summer 2016...
TRANSCRIPT
RIO GRANDE VALLEY
Thank You For Helping
Hungry Children This
Summer!
Summer 2016
Fight ing hunger, Feeding hope together.
Fighting Hunger, Feeding Hop
e
Food
Ban
k of th
e Rio Grande Valley,Inc.
30 yearsy
22 33
Silvia knows she’ll still struggle
to make up 20 breakfasts and
lunches each week. That’s why
today, Silvia is at Christian Life
Church Pantry, a Food Bank of
the Rio Grande Valley partner
agency near her home.
Thanks to generous friends
like you, Silvia now has access
to enough food to provide
balanced, filling meals today
— and throughout the long
summer months.
As she walks the aisles at
the pantry with Abelardo Jr., she
watches his eyes light up with
excitement. Like many people
who receive help, Abelardo Jr. is
amazed to see the wide variety
of fruits, vegetables and other
items made available through
Terri Drefke Chief Executive Officer
DEAR FRIEND,
Board of Directors
Silvia and her husband,
Abelardo, have two school-age
children — Abelardo Jr. and
Josselene. Because Abelardo
works as a handyman, Silvia
says her family’s income isn’t
always stable. Often, this means
affording basics like food can be
a real challenge.
For now, the school meal
program is all that stands
between Silvia’s kids and
ongoing hunger. But soon,
that will change. With summer
almost here, the cafeteria will
close until classes resume in the
fall. In the meantime, Abelardo
Jr. and Josselene won’t have
enough to eat at home.
Even if Abelardo takes on
additional jobs mowing lawns,
Because You Give, Children in Our Community Can Eat
Volunteers of the Quarter: Ricardo Hernandez and Maria GarzaNot long ago, Ricardo
Hernandez, a retired county employee, and Maria Garza, a former nurse, knew very little about the Food Bank of the Rio Grande Valley and its mission. But thanks to a volunteer placement through the AARP’s Back to Work 50+ Program, they received a crash course in hunger relief that they won’t soon forget.
As part of the AARP program, both Ricardo and Maria are receiving training to re-enter the workforce. And because the Food Bank is one of the AARP’s partners — there’s always a need for volunteers of all ages and skill sets — they were welcomed with open arms.
As part of their volunteer experience, Ricardo and Maria are now serving as members of the distribution center’s custodial team. In Ricardo’s case, he’s also spent some time in the emergency food pantry. They’ve both found the work very rewarding.
Although neither Ricardo nor Maria have ever experienced hunger in their own lives, they’ve been deeply moved by the serious need for food here in the Valley.
“The Food Bank is doing a great thing here in the community,” Ricardo says.
We want to thank Maria, Ricardo, and our other AARP volunteers for your willingness to serve! It takes a whole community to fight hunger, and the work you’re doing makes it possible to connect more children and families with the nourishing meals they need.
your gifts to the Food Bank.
Reflecting on her first trip to
the pantry, Silvia struggles to find
the words to express how much
your support means to her and
her family.
“Thank you very much,”
Silvia says. “Whatever help you
can give means a lot.”
Silvia and Abelardo Jr. at Christian Life Church Pantry in Edinburg
Officers:PresidentAbel Orendain,
Orendain & Dominguez Law Firm
Vice PresidentMichelle Lea Zamora,
Inter National Bank
SecretaryAndrea Rodriguez, DoubleTree Suites
by Hilton McAllen
TreasurerRobert Levrier,
AIM Media Services
Chief Executive OfficerTerri Drefke,
Food Bank of the Rio Grande Valley
Members:
It’s hard to believe, but summer will be here in just a few more
weeks. When it arrives, boys and girls across the Valley will be out
of school for the long break. But this isn’t good news for everyone.
With the school cafeteria closed, children who rely on free or
reduced-priced meals are at risk of going hungry. Their parents,
many who struggle daily to make ends meet, simply won’t have
the money they need to replace all the breakfasts and lunches their
children need to thrive.
That’s where friends like you come in.
Your generous support of the Food Bank of the Rio Grande
Valley means parents — like Silvia and Abelardo on page 3 and
Maria on page 4 — will be able to feed their children throughout
the summer. This is such a relief to so many moms, dads, and other
caregivers who want nothing more than to see the kids they’re
raising grow up strong and healthy.
All kids deserve a childhood free from hunger — and that’s
exactly what you’re helping provide with every dollar you send to
the Food Bank.
As we gear up for another summer, I’m grateful for your
partnership — and your faith in our mission. Together, I know we
can help even more kids who live with the pain of food insecurity.
Thank you.
Gratefully,
Terri Drefke
CEO
Lina Cantu Cruz, Edinburg High School
S. David Deanda, Jr., Lone Star National Bank
Gerardo “Jerry” Jackson, Jackson Business Consulting
Tony Gonzalez, H-E-B
Yolanda Gonzalez, Wells Fargo
Cristobal Perez, USDA Farm Service Agency
Rev. Nancy Springer, St. John’s Episcopal Church
Jaime Tijerina, Deputy City Attorney, City of Mission
Michael Whitacre, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
Maria Ricardo
44
Join us September 13, 2016 for our most popular fundraiser. An afternoon of great food, silent auctions and blackboard auctions! Get more details at foodbankrgv.com.Contact: Philip Farias(956) 904-4513 [email protected]
Maria is a single mom with three growing children — Andy, Emily and Nick. She loves each of her kids dearly, and she wants to provide for their health and wellbeing. But without an adequate income, Maria is finding this to be extremely difficult.
Despite a series of setbacks, Maria is still chasing her dream of becoming a teacher. This career will give her much more financial security than she has now.
While she works toward her goal, the only income Maria has to feed her family comes from a small amount of child support and the public
assistance she receives for one of her children who is disabled. With so little money, it’s nearly impossible for Maria to put food on the table without help.
This summer, Maria’s situation is about to get even more difficult. Because the school cafeteria will be closed, she’ll have to replace the meals her kids would normally receive for free. Fortunately, your gifts offer a solution to this problem.
By supporting the Food Bank of the Rio Grande Valley, you help fill the shelves at partner agencies like Paradise Food Pantry in Harlingen. Here, Maria can stock up on the foods that her kids love — like granola and low-sugar fruit drinks — that will keep them active this summer.
In addition to food, Maria’s family also volunteers at the pantry. Maria says she does this to teach her kids that giving back is just as important as receiving help.
One day, Maria hopes her children will graduate and go on to make even better lives for themselves. But for now, she’s very grateful that someone like you is opening your heart and helping her family thrive.
“The help you give is transformative and making a true difference in our lives,” Maria says, full of gratitude for your gifts.
Thank You for Helping Feed Hungry Children
P.O. Box 6251McAllen, TX 78502www.foodbankrgv.com956-682-8101
Connect with us online
Maria with Andy, Emily and Nick
Kale & Banana Smoothie
Ingredients• 1 banana • 2 cups chopped kale • 1/2 cup light unsweetened
soy milk • 1 tablespoon flax seeds • 1 teaspoon maple syrup
Directions: Place the banana, kale, soymilk, flax seeds and maple syrup into a blender. Cover, and puree until smooth. Serve over ice.
This recipe is compliments of the Food Bank of the Rio Grande Valley, Inc.
Sandra Villegas, Nutrition Education Manager Healthy Living Department [email protected]
Thank you to C&S Wholesale Grocers for helping the Food Bank RGV feed approximately 600 students this summer via Operation Kid Pack! Find out more at www.foodbankrgv.comLike “Food Bank RGV” or
follow us @foodbankrgv
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Nutrient-rich kale is hidden in this delicious banana smoothie… perfect for those of us who have a hard time getting our daily dose of veggies!