HOUSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--ExxonMobil will help provide about 1 million meals to Houston-area residents impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic through $250,000 in contributions to local food banks.
The Houston Food Bank will receive $200,000, including $50,000 worth of gasoline gift cards for use at Exxon- and Mobil-branded retail stations to help deliver food to those in need. The Montgomery County Food Bank will receive $50,000 from the company, which has a long history of support for the community organizations.
“We value the important roles the Houston and Montgomery County food banks are playing in supplying food to vulnerable populations in the Houston region during these difficult times,” said Suzanne McCarron, vice president of public and government affairs at ExxonMobil. “We hope our contributions will help their efforts and those who need assistance as our community pulls together to defeat COVID-19.”
The Houston Food Bank is working with hundreds of nonprofit agencies in the area to feed children, families and senior citizens facing hardship as a result of COVID-19.
“Hundreds of thousands of people count on Houston Food Bank and its partners, and this number has heightened significantly as the COVID-19 situation developed and continues,” said Brian Greene, president and chief executive officer of Houston Food Bank.
“We provide essential services and will continue to do so to meet the demand of the community, but we cannot do it alone. This generous donation from ExxonMobil will allow us to provide food for children, senior citizens and families, including the most vulnerable, those who don’t have the means to have reserves of food and other necessities. We thank ExxonMobil for being an amazing partner, especially in this unprecedented time of need.”
The Montgomery County Food Bank is also seeing a significant spike in demand for food and is working with more than 60 partner agencies, local independent school districts and senior adult partner complexes to ensure safe distribution in this time of need.
“We are overwhelmed with gratitude for the generous donation from ExxonMobil,” said Allison Hulett, president and chief executive officer at the Montgomery County Food Bank. “Tens of thousands of people are looking to us for hunger relief during this challenging time. We are so thankful for their support so we might add a measure of stability to those affected in the form of their next meal.”
ExxonMobil, which has about 11,000 employees living and working the greater Houston area, remains focused on keeping its workforce safe and healthy to maintain its operations and maximize production of materials critical to the global response.
The company is the leading U.S. producer of isopropyl alcohol which is used to manufacture hand sanitizer, and also produces polypropylene, which is used to make protective masks and face shields.
ExxonMobil is also working with the Global Center for Medical Innovation to design and support the manufacturing of reusable shields and masks for health care workers.
About ExxonMobil
Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM), one of the largest publicly traded international energy company, uses technology and innovation to help meet the world’s growing energy needs. ExxonMobil engages in a range of philanthropic activities that advance education, with a focus on math and science in the United States, promote women as catalysts for economic development, and combat malaria. In 2018, together with its employees and retirees, ExxonMobil, its divisions and affiliates, and the ExxonMobil Foundation provided $211 million in contributions worldwide. To learn more, visit exxonmobil.com and the Energy Factor.
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About Houston Food Bank
Houston Food Bank’s mission is to provide food for better lives. Last year we provided access to 104 million nutritious meals in 18 counties in southeast Texas through our 1,500 community partners which includes food pantries, soup kitchens, social service providers and schools. We have a strong focus on healthy foods and fresh produce. In addition to distributing food, we provide services and connections to programs that address the root causes of hunger and are aimed at helping families achieve long-term stability, including nutrition education, job training, health management and help with securing state-funded assistance. We are a resource for individuals and families in times of hardship. We are a solution to food waste, working with grocery stores and growers to rescue food before it reaches landfills. In collaboration with our community, we advocate for policy change and promote dialogue on ways to increase access to food and to improve the lives of those we serve. Houston Food Bank works alongside our partner food banks in Montgomery County, Galveston Country, and Brazos Valley. Houston Food Bank is a certified member of Feeding America, the nation’s food bank network, with a four-star rating from Charity Navigator.
About Montgomery County Food Bank
Montgomery County Food Bank began in 1985 as a door-to-door operation run out of car trunks by a small group of volunteers wanting to serve those in need in their community. Throughout the past 30 years, generous donors and volunteers have built it into an organization capable of distributing over 8 million pounds of food annually. The Food Bank also hosts mobile food distributions, offers nutritional education programs, emergency assistance in the time of a disaster or crisis, and provides meal programs for children and senior citizens.
Montgomery County Food Bank is 501(c)(3) chartered by the state of Texas and is a member of the Texas Food Bank Network and Feeding America. Its headquarters is located at 1 Food For Life Way in Conroe, near Hwy. 242 and I-45, just north of The Woodlands.
For more information, to book a tour or volunteer at the facility, or to make a monetary donation or food contribution, visit www.mcfoodbank.org or call 936.271.8800.
