FOOD BANK Visit Welcomed in La Feria

Updated: August 7, 2015

Bill Keltner

Legionnaires open doors for distributions

The FOOD BANK of the Rio Grande Valley, Inc., came into existence in 1986 for the sole purpose of meeting the very human needs of overlooked individuals and families in our neighborhoods. These are often hungry, desperate people who somehow slipped through the services of the established charities available. Locally, the officers and members of La Feria’s American Legion Post #439 regularly open their doors for local distributions to qualified, needy citizens.

Omar I. Rodriguez is the Manager of Communications and Advocacy for the Valley-wide organization. Last week, he arranged for his team of volunteers to be at the post with their trucks laden with supplies for distribution. Perhaps, you saw them. The visit helped many local families. As he put his work into words, he said, “We put smiles on the faces of hungry children, it‘s a labor of love we do”

Omar I. Rodriguez is the Manager of Communications and Advocacy for the FOOD BANK from his office in Pharr.

To learn more about the FOOD BANK, and how it works, we visited with Mr. Rodriguez in his Pharr, Texas office. His office itself is worth a visit. It is tucked away inside the old Valley Fruit Company packing shed at 724 North Cage in Pharr. That unique building was built in 1947, and at one time, was the largest employer in South Texas during the peak of the citrus and vegetable harvests. The structure has since been declared a state and federal historical site.

The huge warehouse has a curved roof made of yellow pine in Lamella construction style of the 1930s. It was abandoned for many years, and the FOOD BANK picked it up for their needs in 2000. It has become the major Valley distribution center for foods donated by USDA, HEB Supermarkets, Walmart and Target stores and other sources. “It is in realty an ‘emergency pantry’ for local people who are hungry, perhaps homeless. Some are diagnosed sick, others having lost their job, and are in desperate shape, through no fault of their own,” he said.

FOOD BANK staff delivers in La Feria: Conrado Ramirez, David Garza and Rolando Gutierrez

The scope of the work is shown by the 35,000,000 pounds of food they move each year, included in that figure are 15,000,000 pounds of produce kept fresh in their cooler units.

To get this massive amount of food to the needy, Omar manages a small staff of workers and five (5) donated trucks that are 10 to 15 years old, and all are needing some serious repair work he relates. “We appreciate the dedicated work of all the volunteers and supporters who make this work of emergency, immediate needs possible,” he said.

FOOD BANK works out of the old Valley Fruit packing shed

How do I feel about the work I do? “Well, let me tell you,” he said. “Every week we provide food to 3500 to 4000 people who would otherwise go hungry. I think especially about the children we feed each week. Sometimes, it’s a matter of paying bills, the rent or eating. If it weren’t for school lunch programs, many kids would not get healthy, nourishing food.

A view of classic, wooden-dome construction style.

During the summer, when there is no school, a number of kids go hungry. If students don’t have enough to eat, they can’t study. “We know of parents and even grandparents who skip meals to make sure the children get proper nourishment,” he said.

A shipment ready for shipping out to hungry Valley people.

“To answer your question,” he paused and said, “I feel good and very satisfied with the work I personally do and the work of the FOOD BANK of the Rio Grande Valley,” adding, “if any of your readers would like to volunteer or join us in any way, they can call me at (956) 904 4514 or my cell number at (956) 227 2665.