Recently Bill Martin, Quitman Rotary Club president and consistent volunteer at the Quitman and Mineola Mobile Pantry distributions for the East Texas Food Bank (ETFB) attended the annual CEO roundtable.

He brought back information about the incredible work of ETFB in combating hunger in the region.

ETFB operates in 26 counties in East Texas, and its Mobile Pantry (MP) distributions in Quitman and Mineola are just two examples of how the organization is meeting the needs of families across the region. Since their inception, these MP locations have served thousands of families, with the Quitman pantry providing food to over 18,000 families since December 2021 and the Mineola pantry helping more than 14,000 families since October 2022.

Distributions require no identification or qualifications, making it easy for families to access the help they need. These events typically take place on different weeks, giving families the opportunity to attend both if necessary.

In 2024, ETFB provided 31 million meals across its service area, which equates 465 truckloads of food. Serving 26 counties, ETFB remains one of the top 7-8 food banks in the nation, and uniquely, it’s the only food bank without a major metropolitan city within its service area. ETFB’s outreach has grown, serving 200,000 households in 2024, marking a 25% increase from the previous year. In addition to its mobile pantry work, ETFB assists 131 partner pantries, which distribute 18 million meals annually.

The organization is also pioneering healthier eating initiatives, with a demonstration kitchen that helps families learn to prepare nutritious meals.

ETFB relies on a volunteer army that ranges between 7,000 and 14,000 individuals, and last year alone, they logged about 34,000 volunteer hours. This volunteer support is valued at over $1,000,000 in labor by Independent Sector studies and is crucial to ETFB’s ability to operate and expand its services.

ETFB’s future growth is driven by a detailed strategic plan, guided by data analytics. Tim Butler, ETFB chief development officer, explained how the organization uses data to identify the highest unmet needs and plan for new distribution centers.

The addition of Resource Centers in Longview, Tyler, Lufkin and Texarkana exemplifies this approach. Initially forecast to provide 750,000 pounds of food annually, these centers have far surpassed expectations, distributing over six million pounds in 2024.

Looking ahead, ETFB’s next priorities include addressing unmet needs in Rusk and Upshur Counties, where the demand for food assistance remains high. ETFB is actively seeking local partners to help distribute food in these areas.