RIO GRANDE VALLEY

RIO GRANDE VALLEY
Spring 2016
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30 Years
of Serving
People of All
Ages!
Figh t i n g h u n g er,
Fe e din g h o p e t o g et h er.
n g e r, Fe e di
ng
DEAR FRIEND,
Terri Drefke
Chief Executive Officer
Abel Orendain
Board President
Board of Directors
Officers:
President
Abel Orendain,
Orendain & Dominguez Law Firm
Vice President
Michelle Lea Zamora,
Inter National Bank
Secretary
Andrea Rodriguez, DoubleTree Suites
by Hilton McAllen
Treasurer
Robert Levrier,
AIM Media Services
Chief Executive Officer
Terri Drefke,
Food Bank of the Rio
Grande Valley
Members:
Lina Cantu Cruz,
Edinburg High School
S. David Deanda, Jr., Lone Star
National Bank
Before we get too far into 2016, we want to take a moment
and thank you for helping us start this year off strong. Because
of friends like you, we were able to meet the $100,000 holiday
matching gift challenge issued by an extraordinarily generous
group of donors — our biggest match ever! We can’t think of a
better way to kick off our 30th anniversary year, can you?
Looking back, it’s amazing how much the world has changed
since the Food Bank of the Rio Grande Valley opened its doors in
1986. Yet despite the many technological and cultural advances that
have come about, we’re deeply troubled that hunger continues to
affect so many people in the Valley.
This isn’t to say that we haven’t made significant progress —
and it’s largely thanks to your support. From the 200,000 pounds
of food that was distributed in our first year to the 35 million
pounds delivered in 2015, the passion of community partners like
you has always been what makes these efforts possible.
Let that sink in a moment. Because of you, thousands of
children, families and seniors who once suffered from hunger now
have the chance to live healthy, productive lives. That’s remarkable
on every level imaginable.
Whether you’ve been with us since the beginning or have just
joined the fight against hunger, know that the 42,000 individuals
we serve each week have help because you choose to give your
time and money to this worthy cause.
As we look back on three decades of working to alleviate
hunger in the Valley, we can’t thank you enough for your generosity
and compassion — both of which make this work possible. We
look forward to many more years of partnership on behalf of our
neighbors in need. As long as there are hungry people in the Valley,
our Food Bank will be here to serve them.
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, Attorney at Law
Michael Whitacre, University of Texas
Rio Grande Valley
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Terri Drefke
Abel Orendain
CEOBoard President
You’re Helping Feed
Seniors in Need
Jose, 84, would be lost if it
wasn’t for his niece, Maricela.
As a widower with a chronic
heart condition, he often needs
help making it to doctor’s
appointments and running
errands. He appreciates Maricela’s
help, but he still misses the
constant companionship of his
late wife, Maggie.
For most of his working life,
Jose had a steady job with the
city’s public works department.
But now that he’s retired, he can
barely afford the basics — like
food — with his monthly Social
Security check.
Although his niece would be
more than happy to help out,
Jose knows Maricela has financial
difficulties of her own — and
he doesn’t want her to suffer
because of him. That’s why Jose
decided to take his niece’s advice
and begin coming to the food
distributions at Una Esperanza
Viva, his local Food Bank of the
Rio Grande Valley partner agency.
With the food he receives
here, Jose is able to stretch his
grocery budget an additional two
weeks — just enough to ensure
he has nourishing meals all month
long. As someone who enjoys a
good meal, Jose is so happy he
has access to items that are both
healthy and delicious.
“May God continue
to bless you and
your gifts.”
“I love everything I receive,” he
says. “Nothing ever goes to waste
because I eat it all up.”
After losing his wife, it’s been
easy for Jose to feel lonely and
forgotten. But because he’s able
to visit Una Esperanza Viva,
he’s frequently reminded that
there are people all across our
community who care about him
— and that truly fills him with
gratitude.
“You are doing a great job,”
Jose says. “May God continue to
bless you and your gifts.”
Jose at Una Esperanza Viva
in Harlingen
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We’ve come a long way since our humble beginnings
as an emergency food pantry in Pharr. Please
take a moment and read over our 30-year journey
to becoming a key source of vital meals for the
thousands of struggling children, women and men
living in the Rio Grande Valley. Everything we’ve
achieved is only because of caring people like you!
1983 – The Pharr
Emergency Pantry
created by Rev. Ted
and Martha Knies
of Pharr Trinity
Episcopal Church in
response to families
in need after a
winter ice storm.
1989 – The Rio
Grande Valley Food
Pantry becomes
“Food Bank of the
Rio Grande Valley.”
1985
1986
1990
2000
2010
2015
Food Distributed
200,000 lbs
2.5 million lbs
12.9 million lbs.
21.6 million lbs
35 million lbs.
# of Agencies
13
35
165
176
250
2012 Grand Opening at the historic
Valley Fruit Company
2016 – The Food
Bank of the Rio
Grande Valley’s
30th Anniversary!
2008 Boys’ and Girls’ Club Kids Cafe
Grand Opening
1999 – The School
Tools Program is
rolled out, providing
school supplies to
low-income South
Texas elementary
schools.
2014 – Terri Drefke
celebrates 25 years
as President and
CEO.
1995
1980
2005
2015
2000
1990
1986 – Incorporated
as a 501(c)(3)
nonprofit organization
under a new name,
“The Rio Grande
Valley Food Pantry.”
2020
2010
2012 – The Food
Bank moves back to
Pharr into the newly
renovated historical
Valley Fruit
Company facility.
1991 – The Food Bank
moves its operations
to its new address
at 2601 Zinnia Ave in
McAllen.
2000 HEB Check Out Campaign
2013 Pharrmer’s Market Grand Opening
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Celebrating 30 Years
of Fighting Hunger
Food
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1989 produce
n g e r, Fe e di
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5
A Retiree Inspires
Youth to Give Back
Andrew Downing
For most of his adult life,
Andrew Downing has worked
tirelessly to improve the lives of
young people in his community.
It’s no wonder that in addition to
his former duties as a caseworker
for Child Protective Services,
he’s donated countless hours of
his free time to the children in
his church’s youth ministry
in Weslaco.
“This is a calling,” Andrew
says. “I want to help the youth in
this community.”
It’s this passion for helping
young people that has caused
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Andrew, now retired, to dedicate
much of his free time to providing
local boys and girls with enriching
service opportunities — like those
offered at the Food Bank of the
Rio Grande Valley.
About once a month, Andrew
brings roughly a dozen kids
from church to the Food Bank’s
distribution center where they
clean, sort and pack boxes of
food that go out to pantries
across the Valley. Each time they
visit, Andrew says the youth are
amazed by the large amount
of fruits, vegetables and other
staples they’re able to prepare
during every shift.
“It really opens their eyes
and validates the time and effort
that we put into our work day,”
Andrew says.
Carla Lopez and Bertha
Vasquez from the Food Bank’s
development team have worked
with Andrew and the youth
ministry for some time now.
They’re always impressed by
the kids’ focus and hard work.
Both Carla and Bertha credit
this to Andrew’s leadership...he
has clearly taught these boys
and girls the important values of
service and community.
Thank you, Andrew, for
helping the next generation
develop the commitment needed
to fight hunger in the years
ahead. Our work would not be
able to continue without caring
partners like you.
Volunteers Needed
Volunteers play a crucial role
in our organization. Through
the support of these special
individuals, we are able to
get food into the hands
of needy families more
efficiently. Please go to:
www.foodbankrgv.com/
howtohelp-2/volunteer
to see how you can help the
food bank feed the hungry,
here at home.
An Older Couple Is
Thankful for Your Gifts
For the past two years, Raul
and his wife, Nelda, have been
coming to Holy Spirit Food Pantry,
their local Food Bank partner
agency, for food assistance. Raul
says that the groceries they
receive here have really helped,
especially since he doesn’t bring
in much income through his job.
During the week, Raul works
at the local mall as a facilities
manager. Once all of his family’s
monthly bills are paid, there’s
not much left over for essentials
like food. Although he never
considered asking for help putting
food on the table before, Raul
says he no longer feels he and
Nelda have a choice.
“The whole experience has
been very humbling for us,” Raul
says, describing his family’s battle
with hunger.
referred to Holy Spirit Food
Pantry, where they now have
help filling their cabinets with
plenty of fresh produce and
healthy shelf-stable items.
Like most people in our
community, Raul would much
rather work than ask for support
from others. But as he and his
wife get older and manual labor
becomes more difficult, he
understands that he may need
to continue to allow friends like
you to help put food on his table.
Knowing that he can count on you
as he and Nelda age gives Raul
great comfort.
“Thank you very much for
helping seniors in need,” Raul
says, expressing gratitude for
your gifts.
“Thank you very
much for helping
seniors in need.”
Now, Raul’s only regret is that
he didn’t ask for help when he
was younger. He first experienced
hunger when he and Nelda were
raising their children. In those
days, they thought their only
option was to ration food or skip
meals so their kids could eat.
Fortunately, the couple no
longer has to go without vital
nutrition as seniors. Because
of you, Raul and Nelda were
Raul and Nelda at Holy Spirit Food
Pantry in McAllen
7
You Give Hope to
Seniors in Need
Zucchini Pancakes
Ingredients
• 2 medium zucchinis, trimmed
and grated
• 1/4 cup of fat-free greek style
yogurt
• 3 ounces cream cheese
• 1 large egg plus 2 large egg
whites
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1/3 cup of flour
• 1/4 cup parmesan
• 2 tablespoons of oil
• Salt
• Fresh ground black pepper
Directions:
1. In a colander, combine grated
zucchini with pinch of salt and
let it sit for 15 minutes to drain.
Wrap in paper towels and
wring out any excess liquid.
2. In a small bowl, stir together
yogurt and cream cheese.
3. In a large bowl, beat eggs, egg
whites and garlic. Fold in flour
and parmesan, and season
with pepper. Add the zucchini
and stir just until combined.
4. In sauté pan over moderate
heat, warm the oil. Spoon 1
tablespoon of batter into the
pan and cook each side 2 to
3 minutes until golden brown.
Serve the pancakes topped
with a dollop of the yogurt and
cream cheese mixture.
P.O. Box 6251
McAllen, TX 78502
www.foodbankrgv.com
956-682-8101
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Looking back, Gregoria, 76, remembers a time when she took
great pride in her home. She says her husband was always good about
making repairs whenever they were needed. But after he passed away,
it’s been tough to keep up with all of the maintenance.
While this frustrates Gregoria, she has more immediate concerns
— like finding a way to buy
groceries this week.
Food wasn’t always hard
to come by for Gregoria. More
than a decade ago, she had
a steady job working as a
waitress in Weslaco. But when
the restaurant closed down,
she was already at retirement
age and was unable to find
new employment. In the years
that followed, she and her
husband mostly depended
on his income to survive.
Now that he’s gone, she relies
on a small amount of Social
Security to cover all of her
expenses.
Although it saddens her
that her house has fallen
into disrepair, Gregoria is still
grateful — her home may not
be as pretty as it used to be,
but it’s completely paid for.
Still, there are other expenses,
and by the time she hits the
Gregoria at Iglesia Casa de Dios in
middle of the month, she’s at
Donna
risk of going hungry.
“It has become really difficult after all the bills have been paid,”
Gregoria says, explaining how she’s struggled to purchase enough food
each month.
“Every little bit you give helps and
goes a long way.”
To help make ends meet, Gregoria began coming to the food pantry
at Iglesia Casa de Dios, a Food Bank of the Rio Grande Valley partner
near her home. Here, she receives plenty of fresh produce and other
items to keep her healthy.
As she prepares to go home with her bag of food, she pauses to
express her deep appreciation for all you do to help her through this
trying time.
“I am very thankful for what I receive,” Gregoria says. “Every little bit
that you give helps and goes a long way.”