The season of Thanksgiving and good will is fast approaching and volunteers from Entergy Texas, Inc. are gearing up to ensure families served by the Southeast Texas Food Bank will have what they need to celebrate and enjoy the holidays.

“The holiday season is the time of year when all of us we tend to focus more on ways to help others,” explained Todd Dunkleberger, region customer service manager for Entergy Texas and food drive coordinator. “I can’t think of anything more basic than making sure people have enough to eat. And by hosting a food drive that includes so much of Southeast Texas, the Food Bank will be given a good starting point as they move into November and December, when extra effort is made to provide for those in need.”

Dunkleberger noted that the Food Bank provides food to 20,000 households in eight counties in Southeast Texas and partners with some 130 other nonprofit agencies to distribute food they receive or purchase. “Their partner agencies prepare about 200,000 meals a month for people in our area,” he added.

On Saturday, seven locations will be staffed by employees, friends and families ready to take nonperishable food items from 8 a.m. until 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 19. At the end of the food drive, trucks carrying collected items will converge and caravan to the food bank.

Local collection sites include: Port Arthur, HEB at Highway 365; Bridge City, Market Basket; and Beaumont, Market Basket at 8350 Phelan Blvd.