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Between the Racks at Montgomery County Food Bank with Jim Carman
Between the racks of the Montgomery County Food Bank warehouse, Kristine Marlow, President and CEO, and Jim Carman, Vice Chair of the Board of Directors, talk about food insecurity in The Woodlands and Montgomery County area, the impact of serving as a board member and volunteer, and how you can help serve your community.
Watch the video interview below and on YouTube here:
Jim Carman, President of the Houston Region of Howard Hughes Holdings Inc., shared how The Woodlands Development Company and Howard Hughes have been involved with the Montgomery County Food Bank since the beginning. Established in 1985, Montgomery County Food Bank is a nonprofit, hunger relief organization dedicated to uniting the community to fight hunger and provides nutritious food to hungry children, seniors, and families through a network of 80+ partner agencies.
Jim joined the Board of Directors two years ago and currently holds the office of Vice Chair. “Food insecurity in this community is a tremendous need and we have a very giving community as we all know…so it’s a natural fit to assist the Food Bank,” Jim Carman stated.
As mentioned in the video interview, Jim shared his experience when volunteering with his family and team at a Mobile Market at the VA Hospital, and the impact it had serving veterans and witnessing first-hand the need in our community that many are not aware of. To find volunteer opportunities, please visit the Montgomery County website at mcfoodbank.org.
“Food insecurity in this community is real and I think a lot of us that live and work, and play, pray and learn in The Woodlands can take it for granted that we live in the #1 community to live in America yet there are needs in the community that we don’t maybe see all of the time,” said Carman. “It doesn’t take long if you get involved with the Food Bank to see that need is here. That really inspired me – whether it’s the veterans that need our assistance in the community, the mobile markets, all the food pantries the food bank supports – it’s really unbelievable. Being a board member helps me to see that direct impact and know that we’ve got to get involved to improve the needs and cure food insecurity in this community.”
Coming in as the President and CEO in August 2020, Kristine Marlow stepped in during the height of COVID and was thankful to have the support of the Board of Directors, enabling the staff and team to serve the community. Marlow shared the current status of high food insecurity and the increase of need with rising grocery prices, living paycheck-to-paycheck, and stretching to buy the basics and put food on the table. Marlow shared, “For us to provide a little relief in their budgets to feed their families, to feed their children, just something very very basic. Fresh produce, peanut butter – things like that that can provide nutrition. It’s so important right now and you can’t get any more basic than food.”
There are many ways the community and you can help support the Montgomery County Food Bank. Carman shared three major ways:
- Donate. Make a donation, sponsorship opportunities, and attend events throughout the year.
- Volunteer. Bring your team for team building and family to the Food Bank.
- Spread the word. Let people know there is food insecurity right here in our community and we need to work together to improve upon those needs.
Together we are stronger in the fight against hunger. Learn more about the Montgomery County Food Bank and discover how you can get involved by visiting their website at mcfoodbank.org.
A special thank you to Montgomery County Food Bank staff and board of directors for their partnership and allowing Hello Woodlands to film and produce the “Between the Racks” video series. This video was filmed and edited by Jennifer Bruse and Rod Prado of Hello Woodlands at Montgomery County Food Bank located at 1 Food For Life Way in Conroe, Texas. Stay tuned for an upcoming video interview!
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