Hurricane Beryl left Montgomery County lacking basic necessities as widespread power outages forced families to evacuate, damaged homes and spoiled food. The Montgomery County Food Bank stood as a symbol of community resilience and support. Over the past two weeks, the Food Bank worked tirelessly to provide emergency food and water to those affected by the storm, serving as a critical lifeline for thousands of children, families and seniors in need.
On average, the Montgomery County Food Bank provides food assistance to approximately 22,500 clients per week. However, in the past two weeks alone, the Food Bank served an additional 28,886 clients affected by Hurricane Beryl through its network of more than 80 partner agencies and community partnerships, bringing the total number of clients served in just two weeks to 73,886. By comparison, the Food Bank has served approximately 80,000 clients per month in 2023, highlighting the incredible efforts and community support in response to the recent crisis.
“I spoke with a mother of two young children standing in line at the Wildcat Resource Center distribution center in Willis. Like many families, hers had been without power for an extended period of time. She clutched a handful of pennies and said it was all she had for gas and food. She tearfully explained how important this food was to her after losing everything when the power went out. Her children were sitting in the back seat, thrilled to have cold watermelon to take home and share with them. This moment highlights the importance of our relief efforts in times of crisis,” said Christine Marlow, president and CEO of the Montgomery County Food Bank.
Food bank volunteers load food into the cars of those in need. Photo by Rod Prado.
advertisement
The Food Bank’s efforts included hosting 13 emergency food and water distributions and assisting with 30 more distributions across the county, ensuring vital resources reached the hardest hit areas of the county in addition to its regular operations. In total, the Food Bank distributed 770,181 pounds of food and water. The Food Bank alone distributed more than 100,000 bottles of water and provided an additional 150,000 bottles through a partnership with the Montgomery County Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management.
Food bank volunteers pack food boxes for emergency distribution. Photo courtesy of Montgomery County Food Bank
The community response was equally inspiring, with 429 Food Bank volunteers donating 2,295 hours of their time to relief efforts. In less than a week, these dedicated people assembled more than 3,500 disaster boxes, demonstrating the incredible teamwork and compassionate spirit that defines Montgomery County.
“We are incredibly grateful for the overwhelming support from our community, partners and volunteers,” Marlow said. “In times of crisis, we are reminded of the power of unity and the importance of coming together to help our neighbors in need. We are stronger together, and our response to Hurricane Beryl proved just that.”
Pictured from left: Conroe Independent School District Deputy Superintendent Chris McCord, Montgomery County Food Bank President and CEO Christine Marlowe, Judge Mark Keough’s Chief of Staff Jason Millsaps, Montgomery County Judge Mark Keough, Conroe Independent School District Superintendent and Montgomery County Food Bank Board Member Dr. Curtis Null, Montgomery County Food Bank Program Director Joe Contreras, and Conroe Independent School District Executive Director of Operations Dr. Mark Murrell. Photo courtesy of Montgomery County Food Bank
advertisement
The Food Bank is extremely grateful to our network of partner agencies and the numerous organizations and retailers who donated emergency food and water, including The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, HEB, Kroger and Walmart, as well as our partnership with the Montgomery County Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency. These organizations and retailers have made a huge impact on the lives of those affected by Hurricane Beryl, reinforcing the Food Bank’s efforts to fight hunger and provide hope in times of need. The Food Bank is also grateful for the quick and intentional generosity of individual donors who have donated critical assistance during this time.
If you or someone you know needs food assistance, visit the Food Bank’s website at mcfoodbank.org to find a food pantry or mobile location near you.
The Food Bank’s most immediate need is financial support as recovery efforts continue. Donations help the Food Bank obtain and distribute essential supplies and water. Every dollar donated provides up to four meals. In addition to financial donations, you can also help by volunteering and spreading the word. To donate, review the Food Bank’s list of most needed items, sign up to volunteer and visit mcfoodbank.org.
Source: Montgomery County Food Bank
advertisement
