Spring Branch pantry adapts to the times

Mary White, director, East Spring Branch Food Pantry, helps a client shop Dec. 20. Pantry volunteers escort clients down the aisle as they shop. Clients must live in one of six ZIP codes to receive food. The amount of food a shopper can take home depends upon the size of the family. less Mary White, director, East Spring Branch Food Pantry, helps a client shop Dec. 20. Pantry volunteers escort clients down the aisle as they shop. Clients must live in one of six ZIP codes to receive food. The ... more Photo: Karen Zurawski Photo: Karen Zurawski Image 1 of / 8 Caption Close Spring Branch pantry adapts to the times 1 / 8 Back to Gallery

The Houston Food Bank distributes 79 million meals through its network of 600 food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters and other hunger relief charities in Southeast Texas.

That 600 includes the East Spring Branch Food Pantry at Holy Cross Lutheran Church, which last year won the annual Bert Bandini award as the food bank's outstanding pantry.

"East Spring Branch was selected because of their willingness to change to serve their community," said Paula Murphy, food bank spokeswoman.

"I was in tears," said Mary White, pantry director, as she remembered receiving the pantry award. "I knew Bert Bandini," she added. "He was a great guy."

Bandini founded the Houston Food Bank in 1982.

Murphy identified the changes as adding hours of operation and offering services in the evening and/or weekend. Thursday night and Saturday hours make the pantry available to the working poor, explained White.

"They understood that there was a greater need and opened a larger pantry to help," Murphy said. "They are continuously looking for new ways to make an impact and change the lives, for the better, for those individuals that come through their doors for help."

And those numbers are increasing.

Lee Renaud, who returned to volunteer 18 months ago at the agency she formerly served, said, "We're serving 50 to 55 people each time we're open." That's up from 30 clients per opening before. The pantry at 7901 Westview at Wirt is open 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Mondays, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays, 5-7 p.m. Thursdays and 10 a.m.-noon Saturdays.

On Dec. 20, the waiting room is full and several people stand outside the front door. Inside, Hans Sunder interviews potential clients.

White said screeners don't check income but just make sure people live in the ZIP codes served by the pantry: 77024, 77043, 77055, 77080, 77092 and 77041. The ZIP codes of 77092 and 77041 recently were added, said White, and the pantry's advisory board is working on goals which could include adding another ZIP code next year.

All people wanting food are prescreened. Those approved are issued a card. Screening also may reveal other client needs for which the pantry could make referrals, said White.

"People come from across town," she added. "We can't feed the whole city."

Terence Franklin, Houston Food Bank director of agency services, identified four qualities about the East Spring Branch Food Pantry which won it the annual award. Those qualities are:

"Their willingness to change to meet the needs of the people they serve."

"Their awareness that there is a need and commitment to meet that need."

"Mrs. White who is staunch advocate for her pantry and the people they service"

"Their willingness to go above and beyond to make sure people are treated with a high level of dignity and respect."

The 125-member pantry volunteer corps includes bilingual speakers like Sunder. White said 78 percent of the 11,000 person caseload is Hispanic, 13 percent Anglo and 7 percent Afro-American with the rest falling in other groups.

In September 2015, the pantry celebrated the doubling of its original 20-by-30-square space thanks to $150,000 in donations primarily from individuals. The pantry also is supported by a network that includes Chapelwood United Methodist Church, Christ the King Presbyterian Church, Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Houston Mennonite Church, Memorial Assistance Ministries, Memorial Drive Christian Church, Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church, St. Catherine of Siena, St. Cecilia Catholic Church, St. Mark Lutheran Church and Terrace Methodist Church. The Spring Branch Independent School District has awarded the pantry the "Good Neighbor Award" for at least six years. Area restaurants and grocery stores are regular contributors.

The pantry goal is to provide enough food for a week, said White. A monthly nutrition class led by dietitian Patty Reed offers information to help with menu planning to make food donations last longer.

Clients are allowed to shop nine times in six months. And the pantry belongs to the food bank's Core Connections Network to bring not only healthy food to clients but also education to help them make healthy choices.

Clients are called by number from the waiting room to the pantry. A volunteer serves as a greeter. Another escorts the client through the aisle to shop based on the size of her family. Most clients are women, said White.

"People really love picking out their own stuff," said Renaud. She remembered an elderly shopper who was turning 85 the next day who got very excited to find a cake at the pantry to help him celebrate his special occasion.

The pantry is about 30 years old and was founded with the help of Wayne F. Schaper Sr., a prominent figure in the community and Spring Branch ISD. White has been volunteering more many of those years, how many she's unsure. Initially, she learned of the pantry's need for help through a church bulletin.

After she visited the pantry, the woman who's always been a volunteer said, "I fell in love."

People exiting cars to enter the pantry call out "hellos" to "Mary." Shopper Juana Leal hugs White and tells her that she loves her.

White doesn't see a gap between volunteers and the people they serve. "They're just like us."

She quotes Bible verse Mt 25:35 "For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in ."

Volunteers see Christ in each client and aim to be Christ-like to each of them - "hospitable, warm and friendly," she said. "We don't want them to have a negative experience," added White.

People in need of food are asked to call 713-464-0852. Email info@eastspringbranchfoodpantry.com to volunteer.