Montgomery County Food Bank receives help from ExxonMobil employees

CONROE, Texas -- On Aug. 29, dozens of ExxonMobil employees and their families will fill bags with food for the Montgomery County Food Bank’s Buddy Backpack Program, which provides nonperishable items for elementary school children who may not get the nutrition they need on weekends and school holidays.

“Tragically, hunger is a heartbreaking fact of life for too many children right here in our back yard,” Montgomery County Food Bank President Rodney Dickerson said. “Research shows hungry children have a harder time learning in school and are absent more often due to illness. It is with the support of dedicated partners like ExxonMobil that the Montgomery County Food Bank is able to help children in our community through programs like this one.”

Each month, the Montgomery County Food Bank’s Buddy Backpack Program helps approximately 800 children a week from nearly 50 elementary schools in Conroe, New Caney, Splendora, Willis, Montgomery and Magnolia school districts. While many of these students receive free or reduced-price meals at school, they may have a bare pantry at home. Through participation in the Buddy Backpack Program, students take home a backpack filled with one meal for Friday night, three meals for Saturday and three meals for Sunday, plus snacks and drinks.

“We are proud to support the Montgomery County Food Bank’s efforts to fight child hunger every day, and we are excited to volunteer for a program that’s making such a tremendous impact on young lives in our community,” ExxonMobil Community Relations Manager Truman Bell said.

In addition to the volunteer efforts, ExxonMobil is donating up to $5,000 to the Montgomery County Food Bank as part of the company’s commitment to supporting organizations for which its employees volunteer.