Food giveaway Sat. for Harvey survivors

Published 11:00 am Thursday, May 2, 2019

The Southeast Texas Emergency Relief Fund, United Way of Beaumont and North Jefferson County, United Way of Mid and South Jefferson County and Southeast Texas Food Bank will partner to hold a food distribution for Tropical Storm and Hurricane Harvey survivors from 8 a.m. Saturday until supplies run out.

There will be two distribution locations for the day: West Brook High School in Beaumont and Jack Brooks Regional Airport.

The giveaway will include a protein box (limited to two per car), fresh vegetables and fruit. Supplies are limited and will distributed on a first-come, first-serve basis. Volunteers will load attendees’ vehicles with supplies in a drive-through style setup.

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United Way of Mid and South Jefferson County CEO and Executive Director Janie Johnson said the food is provided through a grant from the UWNJC to the Food Bank.

“There are so many people, not only in Jefferson County, that were impacted by Harvey and are still in need,” she said. “Serving on the Unmet Needs Committee, every time we have a meeting, we hear from caseworkers of families that are still in the beginning stages of recovery.”

Johnson said a family recently shared a need for a refrigerator, because they were still using an ice chest for all of their refrigeration since Harvey.

“Some are still just now really getting to the mucking out and dealing with mold issues,” she said. “It is so intense when you look at the job of our community, still, two years later to get whole and recover.”

United Way volunteers as well as SETRF members and Southeast Texas Food Bank staff will distribute the food boxes and produce throughout the day.