Who We Are

What is the Brazos Valley Food Bank?

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.   

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What is our Area of Service?

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.

Affiliations

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.  

Ethical Standards

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.

Vision Statement

Our vision is a hunger-free Brazos Valley.

Mission Statement

The Brazos Valley Food Bank unites our community to nourish our neighbors in need.

Values

In all that we do, Brazos Valley Food Bank:

  • Promotes understanding of hunger
  • Inspires community involvement
  • Respects diversity
  • Appreciates every contribution
  • Responds to evolving needs
  • Demonstrates transparency
  • Practices good stewardship
  • Models excellence
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Brazos Valley Food Bank, Inc.

Board

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.

 Executive Committee

Allan Clayton, President, Retired, Community Volunteer (Brazos County)

Marcus AlsupVice President, Branch Manager, Wells Fargo

Deborah Wright, Treasurer, Associate Vice President Budget & Planning, Texas A&M University

Joni Cook, Secretary, Retired, Community Volunteer (Burleson County)

John Cowan, Immediate Past President, Senior Vice President, Simmons Bank

Members at Large

Jimmy Byrd, Executive Dean, Blinn College (Bryan Campus)

Stacy ColvinOperations Manager, KBTX-TV3

Jason CorneliusFinancial Center Manager, Frost Bank

Scott DeLuciaRadio Host, Bryan Broadcasting

Leland Gibson, Project Manager, Office of Facilities Planning & ConstructionTexas A&M University System

David Gilbert, Store Manager, Brookshire Brothers (Caldwell)

Ann GilmoreUnit Director, HEB (Bryan)

Theodore GeorgeProfessor and Head (Dept. of Philosophy), Texas A&M University

Pat Patrick, Sales Center Manager, Coca-Cola Southwest Beverages

Carl Prihoda, Community Reinvestment Act Officer, Citizens State Bank (Brenham)

Philip Rodriguez V. Attorney, Youngkin & Doss, P.L.L.C.

Gus RomanAssistant Director, City of College Station Community Services Department

Tammi WarfordSponsorship Coordinator, Brazos Valley Fair & Rodeo

Executive Staff

Theresa Mangapora, MSW - Executive Director

Programs Staff

Shannon Avila - Programs Director

Winter Terral - Special Programs Manager

Alaina Jalufka - Together We Grow Program Manager

Morayo Suara - Health Promotions Manager

Andi Hawthorne - Agency Relations/Mobile Pantry Coordinator

Haley Stevens - Nutrition Education Coordinator

Melissa Roy - Benefits Assistance Coordinator

Kathryn Clanton - Nutrition Education Specialist

Chelsey Trevino - Individual Development Specialist

Sheena Petty - Professional Development Specialist 

Annie Sims - Referral Specialist

Emily Purcell - Nutrition Educator

Julie Brooks - Agency Relations/Mobile Pantry Assistant

Amelia Mayer -  Project GotEM Assistant

Regan Heath - Special Programs Assistant

Operations Staff

Ebony Knight - Operations Director

Destiny Lavador - Food & Friends Manager  

Tyler Foley- Distribution Manager

Vacant - Logistics Manager

Vacant - Assembly Coordinator

Denise Lambert  - Distribution and Logistics Assistant

Vacant - Administrative Greeter

James Peck - Driver

Tyra Moore - Driver

Kayla Robertson - Driver

Vacant - Driver

Vacant - Forklift Operator

Communications & Development Staff 

Amanda Stark - Communications & Development Director

Vacant - Grants Manager

Porscha Cooks - Development Assistant

Finance Staff

Mary Stevens - Finance Director

Mona Benoit - Finance Specialist

The Brazos Valley Food Bank (BVFB) has been in operation for 37 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. 

History