‘Hunger Heroes’ honored for helping feed East Texas communities

TEXARKANA, Texas (KTAL/KMSS) — September is Hunger Action Month, but all year round, the East Texas Food Bank (ETFB) works to fight hunger across the 26 counties it serves. Thanks to their community partners, though, they are not alone in their fight.

“It’s really a community issue and is best served by those within the community. We’re very blessed and thankful to have some of the longtime volunteers that we have doing this work because without them, it truly would be difficult to serve those in need,” says Kim Morris, chief impact officer for ETFB.

To highlight the work of some of their partners in fighting hunger in their communities, they presented Hunger Hero Awards.

“I really didn’t expect this. It’s really great. We do what we do because we know it’s what we’re called to, but to get an honor like this really is amazing,” says Pastor Chad Mitchell, who runs Shepherd’s Harvest Food Pantry at Hughes Springs Methodist Church.

He received the award along with his wife, Pastor Kara Mitchell. She runs a separate food pantry in Cass County at Linden Methodist Church.

“It’s been a blessing in that there’s times we think, well, we’re not sure how much longer we can keep going, and that’s typically when the donors step up and we’re good to go again for another year,” says Mitchell

Another husband and wife duo earned a Hunger Hero Lifetime Achievement Award for 20 years of service work at the Westside Church of Christ pantry in Texarkana.

“It makes me realize that we need to do more for people, because our lifetime is running out. We are getting old,” says Nadara Sperry, who received the award along with her husband Mark.

They say what keeps them going is the volunteers they work alongside and the gratitude of the people they serve.

“I really appreciate the plaque, but I could do this forever without the plaque. It’s those people’s faces that want help,” says Sperry.

You can find dates and locations of food distributions in your community on the East Texas Food Bank website.