Food Bank in dire need on donations

The largest single-day food drive will be held today in cities across the country.

In Brownsville, the National Association of Letter Carriers will collect food from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Brownsville Post Office on Los Ebanos Boulevard.

This year, the Food Bank of the Rio Grande Valley is especially desperate for donations. The bank's supply is close to an all-time low.

With a tough economy and the lofty price of fuel, food bank employees are unsure what to expect.

"It's too early to tell what will happen," said Alicia Nevarez-Warner, the bank's communications manager. "But food banks across the country are going through a hard time."

As the Valley's largest hunger-relief organization, the Food Bank of the Rio Grande Valley provided more than 1.3 million meals to individuals through its member agencies from Roma to Brownsville last year.

In addition to food donations, the food bank is also looking for volunteers.

"Companies in our community are realizing that by helping to fill needs here they can expand their community leadership role, boost employee morale and build teams," Resource Development Manager Nadia Ochoa said. "One hour of volunteering also feeds 107 people."

Ksieff@brownsvilleherald.com