Saved from the dump: Pantry receives 300 cases of food




DEVAN SUTTON
La Vernia Christian Food Pantry Coordinator Roz Miller (r), pantry volunteers, and donor Doug Thomas (third from left), work hard Aug. 25 to organize a massive donation of grocery items. Among the donated items were at least 35 cases of canned chicken and tuna.

It could have ended up in a landfill; instead, hundreds of pounds of canned goods will help Wilson County families in need.
Doug Thomas — an Adkins resident and H2O Solutions construction manager — was told to throw away about 300 cases of non-perishables, after his crew completed a restoration job near the Dominion in San Antonio.

“Don’t throw it away,” Thomas told his crew. “Load it all in the truck and I will find someone to donate this to.”

Thomas called the owner of H2O Solutions in Houston and asked if he could donate the food instead of throwing it away, as an insurance company at the restoration had requested. The company owner said it was OK to donate the food.

“I know there’s a lot of people in bad shape, and I wasn’t about to have my guys throw this away,” Thomas said. “There’s nothing wrong with it; it’s all good until 2022.”

After getting approval, Thomas reached out to a family friend, Linda Steele of La Vernia, who pointed him in the direction of the La Vernia Christian Food Pantry.

La Vernia Christian Food Pantry Coordinator Roz Miller — along with her husband and a half-dozen volunteers — coordinated efforts Aug. 25 to unload the massive donation.

“While the community has blessed us with abundant food drives, this is the largest [food donation we’ve received],” Roz said.

Donated items included canned tuna, canned chicken, a variety of canned vegetables, chili, beef stew, peanut butter, dried fruit, nut mix, pecans, cereal, oats, rice, and even Thanksgiving food items.


DEVAN SUTTON
La Vernia Christian Food Pantry volunteers unload a box truck carrying about 300 cases of non-perishable food donations Aug. 25.

Food pantry donations

The La Vernia Christian Food Pantry, located at 226 W. Chihuahua St., accepts fresh eggs, fruit, and vegetables, in addition to non-perishables.

Non-perishable items are accepted for dropoff every Saturday from 8:30-11 a.m. The pantry distributes food and other items on Saturdays from 9-11 a.m.

For information, call 830-779-2621.