The Brazos Valley Food Bank (BVFB), a 501c3 nonprofit, is a central food distribution site that utilizes millions of pounds of food, millions of dollars and thousands of "friends" (volunteers) to bring the Brazos Valley closer to hunger-free, feeding tens of thousands of unique individuals annually. BVFB solves hunger today by distributing nutritious food (at least 90%) through our network of partner agencies. Where are are unmet needs, BVFB provides programs that feed the need today - food filled BackPacks for children; on-campus School Food Pantries for older students; Senior Bags; Mobile Food Pantries for rural communities; food home delivery, Project GotEM; and Screen & Intervene services in health settings to identify partners dealing with hunger. BVFB is ending hunger tomorrow with strategies that educate, empower and prevent hunger - benefits assistance for safety net programs, service referrals, nutrition education to SNAP-eligible populations and Together We Grow.
BVFB's facility, based in Bryan, TX, provides serves to Brazos, Burleson, Grimes, Madison, Robertson & Washington Counties of the Brazos Valley of Texas. These combined counties are 92 miles long and 87 miles wide. With 328,898 residents, 59% live in rural areas.
Houston Food Bank: BVFB is a Partner Food Bank of the Houston Food Bank, along with the Montgomery County Food Bank, Galveston County Food Bank and the Trinity River Food Bank. The Houston Food Bank's service area is the 18 counties of Southeast Texas, which includes the Brazos Valley. The Houston Food Bank contracts with BVFB to serve the Brazos Valley. BVFB is its own 501c3; however, it does receive its government food commodity allocations through the Houston Food Bank.
Feeding Texas: BVFB is a full member of Feeding Texas, the state food bank network of Texas Food Banks.
Feeding America: BVFB is indirectly affiliated with Feeding America, the national food bank network, through is affiliation as a Partner Food Bank with the Houston Food Bank.
As a matter of fundamental principle, BVFB strives to adhere to the highest ethical standards. As a matter of pragmatic self-interest, we should do so because public trust in our performance and stewardship is the bedrock of our legitimacy. Donors and volunteers support charitable organizations because they trust them to carry out their missions, to be good stewards of their resources, and to uphold rigorous standards of conduct. BVFB must earn this trust every day and in every possible way.
Our board members, executive leaders, staff, and volunteers demonstrate their ongoing commitment to the core values of integrity, honesty, fairness, openness, respect, and responsibility. Adherence to the law is the minimum standard of expected behavior. BVFB must do more, however, than simply obey the law. We must embrace the spirit of the law, often going beyond legal requirements and making sure that what we do is matched by what the public understands about what we do. Transparency, openness and responsiveness to public concerns must be integral to our behavior.
Our vision is a hunger-free Brazos Valley.
The Brazos Valley Food Bank unites our community to nourish our neighbors in need.
In all that we do, Brazos Valley Food Bank:
Our volunteer Board members are responsible for the financial health of our organization, making it possible for the Brazos Valley Food Bank to work towards a hunger free Brazos Valley.
Philip Rodriguez, President, Attorney, Doss & Rodriquez PPLC
Arthur Watson, Vice President, Assistant Provost, Texas A&M University
Joni Cook, Secretary/ Ethics & Governance Committee Chair, Retired, Community Volunteer (Burleson County)
Allan Clayton, Treasurer/ Audit & Finance Committee Chair, Retired, Community Volunteer, (Brazos County)
Theodore George, Immediate Past President, Professor, Department of Philosophy, Texas A&M University
Alex Egan, Fundraising & Marketing Co-Chair, Director of Special Projects, KBTX Media
Andrew Kilzer, Fundraising & Marketing Co-Chair, General Manager, Maroon & White, LP
Barbara Moore, University and Community Relations Manager, City of College Station
Charlie Shear, Retired Community Volunteer (Robertson County)
David Gilbert, Store Manager, Brookshire Brothers (Caldwell)
Deborah Wright, Associate Vice President, Budget & Planning, Texas A&M University
Dora Cruzan, Retired Community Volunteer (Brazos County)
Jimmy Byrd, Executive Dean, Blinn College (Bryan Campus)
John Cowan, Ad Hoc Advocacy Committee Chair, Vice President, Simmons Bank
Ken Krueger, City President, Extraco Banks
Leland Gibson, Growth & Planning Committee Chair, Project Manager IV, Texas A&M University System
Marcus Alsup, Branch Manager, Wells Fargo
Pat Patrick, Sales Center Manager, Coca-Cola Southwest Beverages
Randy Ripple, Senior Vice President Commercial Lending, Amarillo National Bank
Tanner Vroman, Wealth Advisor, G Squared Private Wealth
Theresa Mangapora, MSW - Executive Director
Shannon Avila - Programs Director
Winter Terral - Special Programs Manager
Alaina Jalufka - Together We Grow Program Manager
Morayo Suara - Health Promotions Manager
Robert Martin - Agency Relationships Manager
Ashley Patridge - Agency Relations/Mobile Pantry Coordinator
Kathryn Clanton - Nutrition Education Coordinator
Mellissa Roy - Benefits Assistance Coordinator
Jenny Serrato - Referral Specialist
Jenna Magnusson - Nutrition Education Specialist
Michael Bostic - Individual Development Specialist
Carrie Martinez - TWG Outreach and Training Specialist
Amelia Ichode - Programs Specialist
Rebekah Gary - Nutrition Educator
Ebony Knight - Operations Director
Vacant - Food & Friends Manager
Tyler Foley- Distribution Manager
Denise Lambert - Inventory & Facility Manager
Caelon Gibson - Assembly Coordinator
Tyra Moore - Special Programs Driver
James Brewster - Driver/Warehouse Staff
Brandon Adams - Driver/Warehouse Staff
Vacant - Driver/Warehouse Staff
Matthew Rothrock - Driver/Warehouse Staff
Vacant - Forklift Operator
Vacant - Communications & Development Professional
Amanda Stark - Communications & Development Coordinator
Tilly Flores - Community Experience Assistant
Mona Benoit - Accounting & Finance Professional
Amanda Franklin - Accounting & Finance Specialist
The Brazos Valley Food Bank (BVFB) has been in operation for 39 years. In its first year (1985), BVFB distributed 50,000 pounds of food. BVFB became a Partner Distribution Organization (PDO) of the Houston Food Bank in 1986, and in 1987, the first paid staff position was created. In 2005, BVFB started its first program, the BackPack Program. Subsequent years included more program development, increased food distribution, including the addition of fresh produce, and disaster response. In 2017, after completion of its Because Hunger Won’t Wait Capital Campaign, BVFB moved into a larger facility with increased space for operations, fresh food storage and volunteer engagement.
