County food bank receives commercial truck

THE WOODLANDS, Texas –– The Montgomery County Food Bank recently received a 2012 Freightliner commercial refrigerated truck through The David Tepper Charitable Foundation, Inc.’s Hunger Relief Fleet, which replaces aging vehicles for Feeding America food banks with new, refrigerated trucks.

Only eight food banks across the country were awarded this grant, valued at $150,000.

“A more efficient fleet of trucks will help the Feeding America network to reach more people in less time, which is absolutely vital for the one in six people who struggle with hunger in this country,” said David Tepper.

The new 26-foot refrigerated truck will be used to pick up grocery products from 11 local stores, twice a week, and deliver product to food pantries. Unique to the truck is an adjustable compartment area reserved for maintaining freezer, cooler, and dry products individually at their correct temperature.

As the food bank adds additional pantries, the truck will enable more fresh perishable foods like produce and dairy to be picked up in the community. Currently the Food Bank picks up over 5,000 pounds of frozen product daily with an additional 443,000 pounds projected to be picked up in a year’s time with a more efficient truck.

“This new Freightliner truck will add efficiency to the overall operation of the Food Bank. We are extremely proud to be awarded this grant for the purpose of serving our county. With the new truck we are committed to being more efficient in picking up frozen and refrigerated product”, said Doris Goleman, the food bank’s executive director. “The truck replaces the 1999 International Reefer which permanently broke down the day the new truck arrived.”

“This generous gift enables Feeding America to uphold its commitment to ensuring that 75 percent of the food we distribute is nutritious. We are grateful to David and the foundation for helping us to maintain this promise to our clients.” said Vicki Escarra, president and CEO of Feeding America.

The public is invited to an Open House ribbon-cutting presentation for the new truck on Friday, Feb. 3 at 1 p.m. in Conroe at 111 South Second Street. Tours of the warehouse and refreshments will be provided. Pre-cooked briskets will also be available for sale at $50.