CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — Lots of needy children will now be able to eat thanks to employees at Valero Refinery.
Back in May, employees hosted a car show and raised $6,700. They presented that money to the Coastal Bend Food Bank Thursday morning for its Backpack Program.
The program provides food for children who rely on school meals to eat during the week but may not have enough food to eat at home on the weekends. The Food Bank gives those children backpacks full of food before they leave school on Friday.
The Coastal Bend Food Bank's Executive Director says they currently pack 1,000 backpacks for local students a week. They pack the bags with fresh fruit, milk, cereal and canned meats for the children and their families. Bea Hanson, executive director of the Coastal Bend Food Bank, says she was grateful for today's donation.
"This is very exciting because this donation came from a hobby," Hanson said. "Some people who are having fun and they repairs these cars and they compete and they show off their cars. At the same time, they are using their hobby to help children who are hungry."
Today's donation will cover the costs of Gibson Elementary's Backpack Program for the rest of the year.
