Food bank closes doors

LADIES IN ACTION IS OPEN AGAIN- More than 30 years ago, Clara White established a food distribution center in Groveton. To purchase the food, she opened Ladies in Action Thrift Store. The store also helped people in need with clothing and household items. On Tuesday, the store reopened, and food will be given out on the third Thursday of each month starting on July 20. COURTESY PHOTO

By Tony Farkas
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COLDSPRING — Trinity River Food Bank and its hub sites in Cleveland, Huntsville, Trinity and Coldspring have permanently closed.

The pantry’s website displays a single message: “Attention: our pantry site is permanently closed. If you are in need of food assistance, please go to www.houstonfoodbank.org/find-help or call (832) 369-9390.”

Christine Shippey, former CEO of Trinity River Food Bank, said that while TRFB is no longer a food bank, they still are taking phone calls and directing people to other food distribution agencies under their umbrella of Covenant with Christ International.

CWC also has a mobile literacy bus for rural counties helping with child literacy and connecting families to social services in their area, such as food stamps, and attempts to help communities in any way possible, she said.

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According to information from representatives of Houston Food Bank, there were four hubs that were closed in each county — Liberty, Trinity, Walker and San Jacinto — and each of these had on-site pantries and held food distributions to the partners with limited to access, or where HFB trucks could not access.

A press release states that HFB has plans to provide extra distributions via mobile deliveries to partner sites that are willing and able to safely receive food.

Houston Food Bank will continue to have HFB staff working in the four counties, including Community Partner Liaison, Community Assistance Program benefits staff, and a Community Relations Specialist who is working to develop underserved communities with TEAFP (The Emergency Assistance Food Program) for eligible families experiencing food insecurity.

Deliveries can be any of the following options: food fairs, mobiles sites and direct deliveries to the pantries. The method of delivery largely depends on the type of partnership (i.e., mobile distributions receive mobiles only, pantries can receive food fairs and direct deliveries, and some pantries that have high traffic areas can also request a mobile).

Residents in those areas that were receiving assistance from TRFB will be able to get assistance from Houston Food Bank, which serves 18 counties in southeast Texas, including the four counties in TRFB’s service area. Our network of partners throughout these areas is open and available to help.

To find a partner site near you, please call (832) 369-9390 or visit www.houstonfoodbank.org/find-help/agency-locator/.

Partner sites in Trinity County include 365 Food Pantry, Liberty Christian Church, Trinity Loaves and Fishes, Martin Senior Service Center and Riverside Baptist Church in Trinity, and Ladies in Action in Groveton.