From LASM Board
It was nice to see everyone at the luncheon, some with spouses in tow, celebrate another great year of helping the Hunt county citizens and Quinlan area community. Comments at our table included surprise at the number of volunteers and also shock that there were unfamiliar faces in attendance. Even though we may be a small food pantry in size, our hearts are gargantuan, filled with desire to help and care for our community and its citizens who need us the most.
LASM in this last year, was/is serving approx. 7.2% of the population in Hunt County. The latest published data shows that Hunt County has approximately 17% poverty rate. Based on these numbers, LASM Food Pantry services approximately 42% of Hunt County citizens living below the poverty rate. That is almost half! In absolute numbers, its estimated 8500 citizens live below the poverty rate, with 3600 citizens served by LASM Food Pantry. Just sit back and think about these numbers for a minute. What an amazing impact LASM volunteers, partners, and supporters are having on our community and our clients.
This last year, LASM had its struggles, repairs to refrigeration units were unusual in numbers of incidents and cost. LASM board approved buying some additional freezers to help with space for protein, and received refrigerators & freezers via North Texas Food Bank and Feeding America’s assistance. LASM is thankful for all their support.
The biggest struggle in this last year came from the changes in support under the new administration, new federal budget and the federal government shutdown. Furloughing Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), increased our numbers weekly throughout the shutdown. Protein was at a premium and the food pantry struggled to have meat on hand throughout the shutdown. In the last few weeks, things have settled down, but the future is still unknown. LASM is continuing to work, trying to store “shelf stable meat” (canned or packet) over the next month as a backup, if a shutdown occurs early next year. If you want to donate food, please see our “Wish List” on our web site, www.lasmfoodpantry.org.
The Board looks forward to another successful year and wants to thank each of you for your support. Hope your holiday season is a merry one and the New Year is full of joy.
Thank you,
– LASM Board
P.S. from Phil
I want to thank you for all the help this last year. LASM is so lucky to have volunteers, partners and donors that help us provide a service to our community. LASM would not exist if it were not for supporters like each and every one of you. YOU make the difference and YOU make LASM happen.
I heard this recently in a speech. Each of you (volunteer, partner or donor) will impact someone else’s life while helping LASM. You may make an impact on someone picking up food, a passenger in the car, a child in the back seat, other volunteers, people passing by on highway 34, or just being seen in your LASM t-shirt after you’ve finished volunteering. You may never know whom it is you’ve impacted, but it is guaranteed to happen.
Therefore, I want you to know that I have been impacted by each and every one of you. You have made a difference in my life, in my sense of wellbeing, in my outlook on life. All that I can say is “Thank You.”
– Phil