LUFKIN, Texas — The East Texas Food Bank Deep East Texas Resource Center will now serve as the place where Lufkin-area residents can get fresh produce.
The mobile pantry that started as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 will be closing. The DETRC, which offers a one-stop-shop of services like food pantry, benefits assistance and other support services, will be the location for people to pick up food when in need.
“DETRC opened in 2021 and people needing food in that area are coming to the center where they receive more food than what we were giving out at the mobile pantry,” said Kim Morris, ETFB chief impact officer. “DETRC has been so successful and more East Texans are coming to the center because of all of the resources they have access to.”
The food bank said that in 2023, the DETRC served 4,385 households over 1.1 million meals.
“Neighbors receive fresh produce, meat, dairy and shelf-stable food such as canned goods and nuts at the DETRC,” said Rachel Collins, DETRC branch manager. “Also shoppers are able to pick out what food they want to eat instead of us handing them a box of food they may not want.”
The final mobile pantry distribution in Lufkin was this Tuesday morning at the George H. Henderson Expo Center. DETRC is open Tuesday through Saturday including extended hours and weekends when the food bank's other pantry partners are closed, ETFB said.