Shining in a Time of Crisis
from the Executive Director, Brazos Food Bank


On Tuesday, August 31st, the phones at the Brazos Food Bank were ringing off the hook.  Families that had evacuated Louisiana were here in the
Bryan/College Station area staying with friends and relatives.  Children
and families needed food and they needed it then.  On Tuesday, local
efforts were not coordinated yet through the County - shelters were not
in place, mass feeding sites were not established.  Someone needed to
help these families.

Because we believe in the holistic and systematic approach that Project
Unity takes with its families, the Brazos Food Bank contacted Project
Unity staff to see if they could assist.  Remarkably, Project Unity
jumped to the task.  We initially asked them to establish a temporary
pantry, at their location, supplied with food from the Brazos Food Bank.
Project Unity amazingly mobilized countless volunteers to make family
care packages.  Exactly what the Brazos Food Bank had in mind.

When families staying in the hotels asked for food, Project Unity and
its volunteers started delivering these care packages directly to the
individuals at the hotels!  When they met with families, they listened
to their stories and heard what other needs they had.  Oftentimes, they
went back to these families, meeting their other needs.  Again, exactly
what we wanted and believed that Project Unity would do and do well.

In the end, Project Unity distributed over 32,194 pounds of food from
the Brazos Food Bank to Hurricane Katrina evacuees in 3 days.  3 days.
I cannot tell you how amazing this task was!  They know the exact number
of individuals they served.  They also know the number of lives they
touched, which in the end is what matters the most.

Project Unity met an unmet need and did it without question.  Some in
the community have criticized this effort.  I have defended this
partnership between the Brazos Food Bank and Project Unity every chance
that I can.

Yesterday, I received a call from the Director of the Southeast Texas
Food Bank in Beaumont.  They heard about the food bank/agency
partnership for Hurricane Katrina relief that was going on here and
wanted to know more so that they could start delivering food care
packages to their hotel-bound evacuees.  Again, Project Unity is setting
the standard for others to follow.

The Brazos Food Bank wishes to extend our deepest gratitude to the staff
and volunteers of Project Unity.  They were extremely wonderful to work
with and made miracles happen for families in crisis.


Theresa E. Mangapora, MSW
Executive Director
Brazos Food Bank, Inc.
1514 Shiloh Avenue
Bryan, Texas 77803

(979) 779-3663, Ext. 100
(979) 821-2111 (Fax)

tmangapora@brazosfoodbank.org
www.brazosfoodbank.org