Latest news with #HoustonFoodBank
USA Today
2 days ago
- Business
- USA Today
Calvin Murphy, Gretchen Sheirr lead Rockets' community service event at Houston Food Bank
Rockets legend Calvin Murphy and Gretchen Sheirr, president of business operations, were among the team leaders who took part in Tuesday's charity and service event at the Houston Food Bank. On Tuesday morning, employees from the Houston Rockets and Tito's Handmade Vodka teamed up for a volunteer event at the Houston Food Bank. While there, the volunteers helped pack food and other essential items for families in need. At the event, Tito's also presented a check to the Clutch City Foundation to honor its 'Assists for a Cause' program, which donates a set amount for every Rockets assist during the preceding NBA season. In 2024-25, the total led to a $20,000 check being presented to the Houston Food Bank. Gretchen Sheirr, president of business operations with the Rockets, was joined by franchise icons Calvin Murphy and Allen Leavell in accepting the donation from Tito's Handmade Vodka. Murphy and Leavell both rank top-three in franchise history for career assists. 'I think the statistic is that one in four children in Houston are in an area where they don't necessarily know where their next meal is coming from,' Sheirr said. 'So, this donation today will help provide 240,000 meals for the underserved community here in Houston.' For Murphy, the event held personal significance. 'I don't think people really understand the importance of this Food Bank,' said Murphy, who will also take part in the team's 2025 NBA draft fan event on Wednesday. 'I was one of those that grew up in Norwalk, Connecticut,' the Hall of Famer continued. 'My mother and father worked, 24/7. There were times when we just didn't have, and if it wasn't for people volunteering to bring us food — there were seven of us — there could've been days that were real lean.' 'So, getting involved with the Rockets and for the Food Bank is very precious, to me. Coming out and doing my little bit of helping to package stuff for people in need, it's something that's dear to my heart.' Through the Clutch City Foundation, the Rockets and their corporate partners provide support and visibility to vital community organizations, including the Houston Food Bank. 'I've been involved with the Rockets now for 56 years,' Murphy said. 'Coming into this (upcoming) year, 57. The slogan they have of 'Rockets care,' that's not just a slogan. That's in their hearts.' The Houston Food Bank serves 18 counties across southeast Texas and supports approximately one million people who are experiencing food insecurity. In addition, the Houston Food Bank offers programs that help families achieve long-term stability. These include nutritional education, health management, and assistance in accessing state-funded support. More: Rockets to host 2025 NBA draft experience at Toyota Center
Miami Herald
19-05-2025
- Health
- Miami Herald
CLS Health and Houston Food Bank Unite to Fight Hunger in Houston
CLS CARES initiative mobilizes over 50 volunteers to pack nearly 14,000 meals for seniors in need HOUSTON, TEXAS / ACCESS Newswire / May 19, 2025 / CLS Health, the Houston area's leading physician-owned healthcare group, proudly partnered with the Houston Food Bank for a meaningful day of service on Saturday, April 26. More than 50 employee volunteers and their families gathered for the inaugural CLS CARES event - a company-wide initiative designed to strengthen community ties and give back beyond the clinic. In just three hours, CLS Health volunteers packed 12 pallets of food, totaling 540 boxes and providing 13,950 meals to seniors experiencing food insecurity across the Greater Houston area. "We were honored to be a small part of the extraordinary work the Houston Food Bank does every day," said Dr. Mohammed J. Baba, president of CLS Health. ""Healthcare is about compassion and connection and our day of service at the Houston Food Bank is a meaningful opportunity for us to give back to a community we care deeply about. The event comes at a time when food insecurity remains a pressing issue in Texas. A 2024 poll by No Kid Hungry Texas found that 44% of Texans reported at least one sign of food insecurity in the past year. This included not having enough to eat, eating poor-quality meals, or cutting back due to rising costs. "Being part of CLS CARES reminds me why I became a physician in the first place - to care deeply, both in and out of the clinic," said Dr. Naureen Alim, CLS Health physician and event participant. Volunteers spent the afternoon sorting, packing, and preparing food for distribution to seniors throughout the region-a hands-on way to make an immediate and lasting impact. CLS CARES is a new community engagement initiative that reflects the organization's broader mission: to serve with compassion, build lasting relationships, and improve lives both inside and outside healthcare settings. "This is just the beginning," added Dr. Baba. "Stay tuned for more community moments from CLS CARES as we continue to invest in the well-being of the neighborhoods we serve." The event was held at the Houston Food Bank's headquarters, located at 535 Portwall Street. To learn more about CLS Health's physicians and services, visit About CLS HealthCLS Health is a physician-owned healthcare group with a pioneering approach to comprehensive care. With over 40 locations and more than 200 providers across the Greater Houston area, CLS Health emphasizes the satisfaction and empowerment of its physicians as a key element in delivering exceptional patient care. Learn more at About Houston Food BankServing Houston and southeast Texas since 1982, Houston Food Bank's mission is to provide food for better lives. We provide access to 140 million nutritious meals in 18 counties through our 1,600 community partners of food pantries, soup kitchens, social service providers and schools. Filling gaps on plates, we have a strong focus on healthy foods and fresh produce. In collaboration with our community, we advocate for policy change and racial equity, and promote dialogue on ways to increase access to food and to improve the lives of those in our communities, including services and connections to programs that address the root causes of hunger and are aimed at helping families achieve long-term stability: nutrition education, health management and help with securing state-funded assistance. We are a resource for individuals and families in times of hardship. Houston Food Bank works alongside our partner food banks in Montgomery County, Galveston County and Brazos Valley. Houston Food Bank is a certified member of Feeding America, the nation's food bank network, with a four-star rating from Charity Navigator for the 13th consecutive year. Website Social media: @houstonfoodbank (Instagram and X), @thehoustonfoodbank (Facebook)
Yahoo
21-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Comerica Bank's Shred Day Houston Returns on April 5
Guests are invited to make a food and/or monetary donation to the Houston Food Bank as they drive through the shred lanes. HOUSTON, March 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Comerica Bank and Iron Mountain Incorporated will securely shred sensitive paper documents for free from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, April 5 at Comerica's Mangum Banking Center (2201 Mangum Road, Houston 77092). "Shredding documents containing personal information is a vital step in preventing identity theft," said Jason Baker, Comerica Bank's Houston Market President. "The goal of our Shred Day is to protect your privacy and the earth by keeping these documents out of the hands of dumpster divers and local landfills." The public, including small business owners and nonprofits, is invited to bring personal or business paper documents to be securely destroyed. All paper from Shred Day Houston will be turned into pulp and recycled. There is no limit to the amount of paper individuals can bring, and those with large loads will be accommodated at a nearby Iron Mountain facility. A complete list of Shred Day guidelines and more event details can be found at This event also will help shred hunger. The Houston Food Bank will be on-site collecting cash and credit card donations, as well as nonperishable food items. Monetary donations can be made in advance via the following link "For more than a decade, our community's generous food and monetary donations have helped the food bank fill its pantries near the end of the school year, which benefits young Houstonians unable to get free meal assistance during summer vacation," Baker said. Since 2013, Shred Day Houston has securely destroyed and recycled more than a million pounds of paper and provided a little over 410,000 meals for area residents facing hunger. About Comerica BankComerica Incorporated (NYSE: CMA) is a financial services company headquartered in Dallas, Texas, and strategically aligned by three business segments: The Commercial Bank, The Retail Bank and Wealth Management. Comerica, one of the 25 largest commercial U.S. financial holding companies, focuses on building relationships and helping people and businesses be successful. Comerica provides 380 banking centers across the country with locations in Arizona, California, Florida, Michigan and Texas. Founded on Aug. 17, 1849, in Detroit, Michigan, Comerica continues to expand into new regions, including its Southeast Market, based in North Carolina, and Mountain West Market in Colorado. Comerica has offices in 17 states and services 14 of the 15 largest U.S. metropolitan areas, as well as Canada and Mexico. Comerica reported total assets of $79.3 billion at Dec. 31, 2024. Learn more about how Comerica is raising expectations of what a bank can be by visiting and follow us on Facebook, X, Instagram and LinkedIn. View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Comerica Bank Sign in to access your portfolio
CNN
11-03-2025
- Politics
- CNN
For a single mom worried about keeping her kids fed, weathering inflation means wasting nothing
The thoughts come quickly for Bianca Panelosa – make toilet paper and napkins from old rags, dilute juice and milk for cereal, ask the kids to eat less. The single mother of three, with a fourth on the way, waits in the cold predawn hours outside a food fair in north Houston, brainstorming ways to make ends meet so she can feed her children. 'I'm just trying to work it out,' says Panelosa. 'I'm still thinking.' Panelosa remembers how she beat the odds before: surviving domestic violence and escaping homelessness after a divorce – which forced her to move back in with her parents. This time, it's tariff wars and rising prices at a time when she can't work. Two of her children have disabilities. 11-year-old Adan is autistic and has Down syndrome. 6-year-old Andy can't walk upright. Her youngest, 3-year-old Naomy, helps 34-year-old Panelosa tend to her brothers. The cold wind whistles and another thought flashes – boil tap water to drink instead of using bottled water. She's done it before; she'll do it again to help stretch the $400 she receives in SNAP food stamps every month – which is already not enough. Cracks are beginning to show in the US economy and President Donald Trump's on-again, off-again threats of tariffs on goods from Mexico and Canada are causing confusion for farmers and businesses. Government statistics show consumer spending is down and food prices are going up, all of which can make it harder to afford groceries. 'Buy less, eat less,' says Maria Martha De Leon, a 72-year-old grandmother on a fixed income, of her plans to cope. She arrived at 4:30 a.m. to stake her claim for free food. Bundled up and sitting in a folding chair, De Leon's face is barely visible behind the scarf tightly wrapped around her head. In the back of her mind: the joy of cooking for her five grandchildren who love eating her soups and rice. As day breaks, the line now wraps around the building. Many stand with coolers and grocery carts – hoping the bounty they'll receive is worth the wait. More than 47 million people in the US, including 7.2 million children, lived in homes without enough food for a healthy life in 2023, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) says. More of these 'food insecure' households are in Texas than any other state. The need for free food appears to be increasing. The Houston Food Bank says there was a 22% increase in distribution in January 2025 compared with the same month last year. Brian Greene, Houston Food Bank CEO, fears it will get worse. An economic downturn would bring the 'possibility, if not the probability, of a significant increase in need and not having the resources to deal with that,' Greene tells CNN inside the group's 300,000-square foot warehouse filled with rows of food stacked several levels high. 'Food insecurity isn't really about food. Food insecurity is about people not having enough income to meet all their expenses,' explains Greene. 'It's just that food tends to be the most flexible expense.' As beeping forklifts move pallets of fresh produce from cold storage to waiting 18-wheel trailers, Greene describes a possible nightmare scenario if there are cuts to SNAP, job losses, and disruptions to the USDA's emergency food assistance programs. 'We are getting a lot of concern, a lot of fear coming from neighbors asking us what's going to happen and how will we be able to respond,' says Greene. 'Unfortunately, we do not at this time have good answers.' An increase in demand coupled with a food supply reduction could be devastating. 'There is no way we could make up the difference,' says Greene. Greene remembers a time during Trump's first term when there was a US-Canada dairy dispute which resulted in food banks receiving a huge surplus of American-produced milk. It's one of the side effects of tariffs – if they are unable to be sold outside the US, harvests are more likely to be donated. But that's not the kind of boost Greene wants. 'We ended up distributing about 25 tractor trailer loads of milk per week for about a six-month period,' Greene says of a 2017 trade battle with Canada over dairy products. But it's not a windfall he hopes for. 'It's both temporary and again, the scale of it can sound huge until you consider how small it is compared to the overall economy.' The Houston Food Bank says 49% of its distributed food comes from American farmers, either directly from farmers or through USDA programs. The remainder comes from retailers, wholesalers, and manufacturers. We saw multiple one-ton sacks of Canadian-grown pinto beans and dozens of various Mexican-grown fruits and vegetables – a sign cross-border policies could impact supply. 'We actually do pull a lot of produce from Mexico,' says Greene. If there are interruptions in produce coming from south of the border, the organization's ability to serve could be impacted. But so far, the Houston Food Bank says, there's been no supply chain interruptions. While inventory remains steady at the Houston Food Bank, demand has increased. Houston non-profit BakerRipley said there was a 13% increase in attendees from February to March in at least one of its food fairs. 'We hear they're not getting food stamps, they lost their job, they're ill, (and) they don't have transportation,' says Rosalva Hernandez, BakerRipley's manager of community development, standing in a room filled with people waiting for food. During February's food fair, 912 adults and children received supplies, in March that number jumped to 1,030. Hernandez wipes away tears as she watches volunteers hand out fresh produce and bread to familiar faces. She grew up in this community. Her parents live 5 minutes away. 'These are my people. They're my neighbors,' she says. 'This is my family.' The organization has budgeted for 250 people to be served, but if more turn up Hernandez says she will ask them to wait to see what is left. This day, the Houston Food Bank's 18-wheeler arrives with 1,910 heads of broccoli, 793 loaves of bread, 960 bananas, 924 heads of cabbage, 1,676 tomatoes, 1,200 onions, and 20 big sacks filled with 5-pound bags of potatoes. No proteins arrive this time, which sometimes includes peanut butter. The sun is up when Panelosa's number is called. She circles the semitruck as volunteers hand her bag after bag of vegetables. She smiles as she realizes she can make mashed potatoes as requested by her son Andy. She formulates the dinner menu in her mind as she drives away: fried fish, white rice, mashed potatoes, broccoli, carrots, bread, sliced tomatoes and banana-flavored water. She just needs to buy catfish at the grocery store. At home, she opens her refrigerator and cupboards to show us all the items she receives from food banks she visits around the area. Cream cheese, mushrooms, butter, jelly, juice, tuna, canned chicken and salmon, beans, fruit cups, and eggs. Worried about tariffs, she's stocking up food from food banks and consuming items based on their expiration dates – what's about to expire is eaten first. Her mantra: waste nothing. And she's grateful for her parents, her children, and her resiliency – which means getting creative when faced with adversity. It's that creative spirit that has her thinking about turning old clothes into toilet paper and napkins if things get tougher. Bianca says there's no shame in being poor and caring for family. 'I'm not embarrassed,' she says.
CNN
11-03-2025
- Politics
- CNN
For a single mom worried about keeping her kids fed, weathering inflation means wasting nothing
The thoughts come quickly for Bianca Panelosa – make toilet paper and napkins from old rags, dilute juice and milk for cereal, ask the kids to eat less. The single mother of three, with a fourth on the way, waits in the cold predawn hours outside a food fair in north Houston, brainstorming ways to make ends meet so she can feed her children. 'I'm just trying to work it out,' says Panelosa. 'I'm still thinking.' Panelosa remembers how she beat the odds before: surviving domestic violence and escaping homelessness after a divorce – which forced her to move back in with her parents. This time, it's tariff wars and rising prices at a time when she can't work. Two of her children have disabilities. 11-year-old Adan is autistic and has Down syndrome. 6-year-old Andy can't walk upright. Her youngest, 3-year-old Naomy, helps 34-year-old Panelosa tend to her brothers. The cold wind whistles and another thought flashes – boil tap water to drink instead of using bottled water. She's done it before; she'll do it again to help stretch the $400 she receives in SNAP food stamps every month – which is already not enough. Cracks are beginning to show in the US economy and President Donald Trump's on-again, off-again threats of tariffs on goods from Mexico and Canada are causing confusion for farmers and businesses. Government statistics show consumer spending is down and food prices are going up, all of which can make it harder to afford groceries. 'Buy less, eat less,' says Maria Martha De Leon, a 72-year-old grandmother on a fixed income, of her plans to cope. She arrived at 4:30 a.m. to stake her claim for free food. Bundled up and sitting in a folding chair, De Leon's face is barely visible behind the scarf tightly wrapped around her head. In the back of her mind: the joy of cooking for her five grandchildren who love eating her soups and rice. As day breaks, the line now wraps around the building. Many stand with coolers and grocery carts – hoping the bounty they'll receive is worth the wait. More than 47 million people in the US, including 7.2 million children, lived in homes without enough food for a healthy life in 2023, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) says. More of these 'food insecure' households are in Texas than any other state. The need for free food appears to be increasing. The Houston Food Bank says there was a 22% increase in distribution in January 2025 compared with the same month last year. Brian Greene, Houston Food Bank CEO, fears it will get worse. An economic downturn would bring the 'possibility, if not the probability, of a significant increase in need and not having the resources to deal with that,' Greene tells CNN inside the group's 300,000-square foot warehouse filled with rows of food stacked several levels high. 'Food insecurity isn't really about food. Food insecurity is about people not having enough income to meet all their expenses,' explains Greene. 'It's just that food tends to be the most flexible expense.' As beeping forklifts move pallets of fresh produce from cold storage to waiting 18-wheel trailers, Greene describes a possible nightmare scenario if there are cuts to SNAP, job losses, and disruptions to the USDA's emergency food assistance programs. 'We are getting a lot of concern, a lot of fear coming from neighbors asking us what's going to happen and how will we be able to respond,' says Greene. 'Unfortunately, we do not at this time have good answers.' An increase in demand coupled with a food supply reduction could be devastating. 'There is no way we could make up the difference,' says Greene. Greene remembers a time during Trump's first term when there was a US-Canada dairy dispute which resulted in food banks receiving a huge surplus of American-produced milk. It's one of the side effects of tariffs – if they are unable to be sold outside the US, harvests are more likely to be donated. But that's not the kind of boost Greene wants. 'We ended up distributing about 25 tractor trailer loads of milk per week for about a six-month period,' Greene says of a 2017 trade battle with Canada over dairy products. But it's not a windfall he hopes for. 'It's both temporary and again, the scale of it can sound huge until you consider how small it is compared to the overall economy.' The Houston Food Bank says 49% of its distributed food comes from American farmers, either directly from farmers or through USDA programs. The remainder comes from retailers, wholesalers, and manufacturers. We saw multiple one-ton sacks of Canadian-grown pinto beans and dozens of various Mexican-grown fruits and vegetables – a sign cross-border policies could impact supply. 'We actually do pull a lot of produce from Mexico,' says Greene. If there are interruptions in produce coming from south of the border, the organization's ability to serve could be impacted. But so far, the Houston Food Bank says, there's been no supply chain interruptions. While inventory remains steady at the Houston Food Bank, demand has increased. Houston non-profit BakerRipley said there was a 13% increase in attendees from February to March in at least one of its food fairs. 'We hear they're not getting food stamps, they lost their job, they're ill, (and) they don't have transportation,' says Rosalva Hernandez, BakerRipley's manager of community development, standing in a room filled with people waiting for food. During February's food fair, 912 adults and children received supplies, in March that number jumped to 1,030. Hernandez wipes away tears as she watches volunteers hand out fresh produce and bread to familiar faces. She grew up in this community. Her parents live 5 minutes away. 'These are my people. They're my neighbors,' she says. 'This is my family.' The organization has budgeted for 250 people to be served, but if more turn up Hernandez says she will ask them to wait to see what is left. This day, the Houston Food Bank's 18-wheeler arrives with 1,910 heads of broccoli, 793 loaves of bread, 960 bananas, 924 heads of cabbage, 1,676 tomatoes, 1,200 onions, and 20 big sacks filled with 5-pound bags of potatoes. No proteins arrive this time, which sometimes includes peanut butter. The sun is up when Panelosa's number is called. She circles the semitruck as volunteers hand her bag after bag of vegetables. She smiles as she realizes she can make mashed potatoes as requested by her son Andy. She formulates the dinner menu in her mind as she drives away: fried fish, white rice, mashed potatoes, broccoli, carrots, bread, sliced tomatoes and banana-flavored water. She just needs to buy catfish at the grocery store. At home, she opens her refrigerator and cupboards to show us all the items she receives from food banks she visits around the area. Cream cheese, mushrooms, butter, jelly, juice, tuna, canned chicken and salmon, beans, fruit cups, and eggs. Worried about tariffs, she's stocking up food from food banks and consuming items based on their expiration dates – what's about to expire is eaten first. Her mantra: waste nothing. And she's grateful for her parents, her children, and her resiliency – which means getting creative when faced with adversity. It's that creative spirit that has her thinking about turning old clothes into toilet paper and napkins if things get tougher. Bianca says there's no shame in being poor and caring for family. 'I'm not embarrassed,' she says.
