East Texas Food Bank and First Choice Power Expand Food First™ Program to the BackPack Program
(Tyler, Texas) - This holiday season, First Choice Power is expanding its innovative Food First™ program to help fight childhood hunger during school breaks. First Choice Power donated $5,000 to the East Texas Food Bank to provide extra food over the holidays for children who receive food through the food bank’s BackPack Program. The holiday food distribution will take place at four Tyler ISD elementary schools. The backpacks are filled with three weeks of food for more than 400 children.
“Texas ranks as one of the worst states when it comes to hunger, and we are meeting an important need in the communities we serve,” said Brian Hayduk, president of First Choice Power, a retail electric provider in West Texas. “We are proud to continue our partnership with the East Texas Food Bank to expand our Food First™ program to provide these meals during the holiday break.”
“We know that proper nutrition is important for children so they can grow and reach their full potential. Thanks to First Choice Power, more than 400 children will be fed during the holiday break and be ready to come back to school and learn,” said Dennis Cullinane, executive director of the East Texas Food Bank. “We appreciate First Choice Power continued support to feed hungry children in East Texas and state-wide.”
This is the first time First Choice Power has provided food for the regular school year BackPack Program but they did fund the pilot Summer BackPack Program earlier this year. Food First, which launched this summer with a weekend food bag program for school-age children, has already provided more than 300,000 meals to Texans in need. Thousands more meals will be given to kids in need by providing take-home bags of nutritious, kid-friendly foods during the holiday breaks.
About East Texas Food Bank
The East Texas Food Bank distributes approximately 17 million pounds of food each year to over 200 partner agencies in 26 East Texas counties. Our vision is for a hunger-free East Texas and our mission is to reduce hunger by providing food, support and education to those in need with passion and efficiency. Our purpose is to ensure that no one in East Texas is forced to go without food. The East Texas Food Bank is a member of Feeding America and the Texas Food Bank Network. To learn more, please visit www.easttexasfoodbank.org. Find us on Facebook at facebook.com/etfoodbank or follow our news on Twitter at twitter.com/etfoodbank.
PUCT REP Certification No. 10008 | First Choice Power Special Purpose, L.P
Contact:
Karolyn Davis
Office: 903.617.2015
Cell: 903.372.2740
kdavis@easttexasfoodbank.org