Texarkana, Texas – The East Texas Food Bank celebrated two local champions of compassion at its September Hunger Hero awards ceremony held at the Texarkana Resource Center. Volunteer Joe Palomino received the Volunteer Hunger Hero Award, while the congregation Church on the Rock was honored with the Community Partner Hunger Hero Award.
Volunteer dedication fuels the fight against hunger
Palomino has been a steady presence at the Resource Center since it opened in 2024 at 3019 S. Lake Drive. Over the past two years he has logged more than 1,100 volunteer hours across 400 shifts, according to the food bank’s press release. “Joe embodies what it means to serve others,” said Shan Parks, manager of the Texarkana Resource Center. “He steps in wherever he is needed. Even when his own family faces challenges, he continues to show up with a smile and a servant’s heart. His dedication is a powerful example of the difference one person can make in a community.”
Palomino explained that his commitment began after witnessing the food bank’s first distribution at the center. “I pulled in and said, ‘I want to help,’ and they said, ‘Sure, we need all the help we can get,’ and I have never stopped volunteering since that day,” he said, adding that the staff feel like a second family.
Church on the Rock partners to feed the needy
For more than a decade, Church on the Rock has operated an emergency food pantry, contributing over 58,000 meals to the East Texas Food Bank’s efforts. Pastor Travis Jackson emphasized the faith‑driven motivation behind the partnership: “We believe everyone deserves access to nutritious food and the opportunity to thrive. The ETFB has a proven record of positively addressing food insecurity in our area and supporting families in need.” The congregation’s involvement allows members to live out their Christian faith by serving neighbors in need.
Hunger remains a pressing issue in East Texas
September is recognized nationally as Feeding America’s Hunger Action Month, and the awards underscore the ongoing challenge of food insecurity. Feeding America’s Map the Meal Gap study estimates that one in six East Texans – including one in four children – go hungry, amounting to roughly 232,940 adults and 83,090 children.
The East Texas Food Bank, a nonprofit organization, provides more than 30 million meals each year to 200 partner agencies and feeding programs across 26 counties. The agency encourages community members to support its mission through volunteering, donations, and partnerships.
For more information about how to get involved or to donate, visit EastTexasFoodBank.org.
Original reporting: Texarkana Gazette — read the source article.
