Episcopal Health Foundation.JPG

The East Texas Food Bank honored Chick-Fil-A operators and Episcopal Health Foundation on Tuesday morning as part of its Hunger Hero Awards. 

The awards are part of the organization’s efforts to highlight food insecurity for Hunger Action Month.

“In East Texas, 16.9% of our population is considered food insecure. It’s the second highest in the country,” said ETFB CEO David Emerson. “Texas is behind Arkansas in food insecurity. And it’s something that’s important to call people to action, to come and to volunteer, to serve, to donate.”

Tyler and Lindale area Chick-fil-A operators Jeff Johnston, Ikey Eason, Joseph Williams and Joshua Johnson accepted the Corporate Partner Hunger Hero Award for their work in supporting the East Texas Food Bank mission.

Johnston, former ETFB board chair president and current executive board member, owns and operates the Broadway Crossing Chick-fil-A store in Tyler. As a Chick-fil-A operator, Johnston has identified a mission to give back and help the ETFB — a cause he is passionate about.

“The food bank helps those that oftentimes can’t help themselves,” Johnston said. “And I challenge my team at Chick-fil-A, and I challenge even the general public — only by the grace of God, we have something to eat — because just like that, you can lose your house, you lose your health, you lose everything but you’ve gotta eat. And this organization empowers and gives back a tremendous amount.”

Chick-fil-A nominated ETFB for the True Inspiration Award, a national award started to carry on the legacy of Chick-fil-A founder S. Truett Cathy, and received $125,000.

“We are humbled to be recognized in this way and thankful for this incredible relationship with CFA,” Emerson said.

Episcopal Health Foundation, which serves 80 counties including Wichita Falls, Austin and Tyler, received the Foundation Partner Hunger Hero Award. 

“Episcopal Health Foundation cares about making sure that Texans have access to improve their health and we are so thrilled to have a partnership with them,“ Emerson said.

Cindy Lucia, senior program officer with Episcopal Health Foundation, believes it is important to support nutrition efforts. EHF has provided the ETFB with over $450,000 in funding to increase access to SNAP assistance at ETFB resource centers in Tyler and Longview.

“We’re proud to support the East Texas Food Bank not only to enroll individuals for essential health benefits like SNAP and health insurance, but also in its effort to shape solutions that truly prioritize the needs and experiences of those they serve,” Lucia said.

At the ETFB, Lucia got to tour its kitchen and saw how the organization teaches people about different grains. They teach them the difference between whole grains and refined grains by allowing them to cook and taste them. This allows people to see the difference and understand why one is the healthier choice.

Lucia highlighted the food bank’s efforts to connect the people they serve with resources such as free health screenings provided by UT Tyler School of Medicine students.

“It’s a great opportunity to extend those health resources,” Lucia said. “It’s not just about hospital care and clinic care, when you get sick care, it’s about being healthy so you don’t have to have expensive care.”

The ETFB has opened more resource centers to help provide resources for communities with high food insecurity. They currently have four locations: Lufkin, Texarkana, Longview and Tyler. 

For more information on the East Texas Food Bank, visit https://www.easttexasfoodbank.org/.