Houston Food Bank

WCF donates over $280K to local and Texas charities

THE WOODLANDS, Texas -- The Woodforest Charitable Foundation has supported 41 Texas charities through donations exceeding $280,000 in 2011. Of that amount, $221,000 was presented to Montgomery County and Houston charities.

The Foundation supports a variety of charities which include food bank’s privately funded children’s feeding programs, shelters for abused women & children, programs & shelters for the homeless, programs for at-risk youth & teens, child advocacy groups, programs for the mentally and physically challenged, community clinics and programs for seriously or terminally ill children.

During a recent Woodforest National Bank’s manager’s meeting held at The Woodlands Waterway Marriott Hotel & Convention Center, donations were presented to several of the Texas charities. Among those were:

- Boys and Girls Country ($20,000)
- Capital Area Food Bank ($3,750)
- Children’s Miracle Network ($10,000)
- Children’s Safe Harbor ($5,000)
- East Texas Food Bank ($10,500)
- Houston Food Bank ($25,000)
- Montgomery County Food Bank ($10,000)
- Montgomery County Youth Services ($6,500)
- New Danville ($11,500)
- North Texas Food Bank ($15,750)
- San Antonio Food Bank ($10,370)
- Tarrant Area Food Bank ($7,600)
- The Samaritan Inn ($10,000)

"Across the country there are thousands of Woodforest Bank employees working diligently to raise funds which benefit the Woodforest Charitable Foundation and the many worthy charities we support," said Kim Marling, v.p. & executive director of Woodforest Charitable Foundation. "This presentation was a perfect opportunity for Woodforest managers to learn more about these organizations as well as gain a better understanding of the positive impact their fundraising efforts are making. Both the Bank and the Foundation share a deep concern for the need in our communities and remain committed to serving others."

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. In its sixth year, Woodforest Charitable Foundation continues to demonstrate 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.

Houston Helps: Houston Food Bank and The Loop Group | The Loop Scoop

July 6th, 2011 Houston Helps: Houston Food Bank and The Loop Group

I’m a little perplexed why doing good always has to be early in the morning or outside in the full heat of the day, but I guess that sweat equity earns karma points. Most Saturday mornings, come 6:30, you can find me blissfully snoring away in my bed, a little drool running down my cheek. Ok, a lot of drool. Last Saturday, I found myself groggily stumbling through my morning ritual before heading over to the Houston Food Bank to do my good deed for the week, eh month… ok, year.

Different team leaders come in from the food storage and organizing section of the warehouse to gather their crews—each cluster with a completely different task. For instance, the Houston Texans’ fans were to sort good food and drink from bad food and drink, not unlike the scales that sort Willy Wonka’s Golden Chocolate Eggs . We were given the duties of accepting and recording deliveries. Thirty minutes went by, not a single delivery. Shame on us, Houstonians.

I guess we looked sad, it didn’t take long for the food bank staff to reassign us to food sorting. After pulling on our latex gloves, we got to work disinfecting each item that came to us from the warehouse, checking it for holes, contamination or expiration, repackaging it and sending it down the room-wide conveyor belt. I was confused by some of the items people donated, tons (literally) of Capri Suns, one box of raisins still in the plastic package of six, and enough Pop Ice for every kid at your local community pool.

With a break halfway through the shift for water and team pictures, we left our station for the break room. Venniece Robbins , Director of Volunteer Services, came around, taking the time to thank each volunteer for their time. She informed us that a new warehouse would be opening just off I-10 East, at the end of July and that they were in need of volunteers to help set up and transition the old to the new. At that point, our break ended.

The second half of our shift went much like the first. Between uncovering more Capri Suns and experimenting with different accents in which to yell, “BOX!” when fresh items to sort were needed, it was a good way to spend the remainder of our experience. After finishing the last batch of items, we left through the lobby where they told us how much food we had sorted and packed. It was an impressive amount for four hours of work. On that note, we exited the A/C and went our separate ways into the heat of summer.