The inspiration
Collections of nonperishable goods to support the Interfaith Food Pantry will continue through December, and the nonprofit is also seeking volunteer assistance in October for the food pantry and other programs, such as:
- Interfaith Hand Me Up Shop
- Daily congregate meals for seniors
- Veggie Village Community Garden
"Giving has been tremendous, which we're really grateful for," she told Community Impact. "We've had to do a lot more asks than normal, particularly for our food pantry; we've seen very high increase in our food pantry numbers as well as our crisis assistance. We are at about 30% over what we had budgeted. The needs are very high right now among families and seniors, particularly those that are living paycheck to paycheck."
As the organization looks to raise 50,000 pounds of food items, she said things used in holiday meals are especially useful, such as mashed potatoes, meal starters and soups as well as canned food items.
What they're saying
Linda Nelson, who is a member of The Woodlands Township board of directors and a member of the 50th Anniversary Committee, spoke at the reception for the Day of Giving, saying that one goal of the event was to create an opportunity inclusive to all residents who wanted to be involved by encouraging volunteerism and donations throughout the month. Holiday giving, such as toy donations and other financial donations, are also ongoing through the season, she said.
"So far we have 5,000 [pounds of food] already donated; we had a lot donated this weekend and yesterday, so we're kind of excited to see what we see today," Nelson said.
Jim Carman, president of the Howard Hughes Houston region, remarked on the contributions of The Woodlands' founder George Mitchell, who also founded Interfaith.
"[George Mitchell] and his wife, Cynthia, understood the importance of building a more loving and caring community of service," Carman said. "It's what makes a community like The Woodlands so special—Interfaith reaching out to our neighbors, providing resources, support for families and children in need, and helping the next generation to reach their potential."
What's next
The donation drive will continue through December, and volunteers are always needed among the Interfaith programs, officials said. Interfaith of The Woodlands also has a number of holiday programs with opportunities to donate gifts for families, children and seniors.
Other items benefiting Interfaith include The Woodlands 50th anniversary merchandise and a piece of Kendra Scott jewelry being debuted this week, Herndon said.
Ongoing food and household needs listed by the Interfaith Food Pantry on its website include:
- Canned or powdered milk
- Canned vegetables
- Canned fruit and fruit juices
- Oatmeal and cereal
- Canned meats
- Rice, beans and pasta
- Pasta sauce
- Toilet paper
- Personal hygiene items
- Household cleaning products
