A big change is coming for the two monthly distributions of food in Quitman and Mineola by the East Texas Food Bank (ETFB).

The mobile pantries, which typically serve hundreds of families each month, must shift to a locally-operated event if the distributions are to continue.

ETFB will continue to supply the food, but all the logistics must be handled locally.

Changes in government funding have shifted the cost of the mobile pantries, which were formerly funded about 25-30% by the food bank and have risen to 70-75%.

The food bank will continue to truck the monthly food supply to the locations, but it will no longer supply tables, tents, packing bags, trash bags, cleaning wipes, traffic cones, facility counters or similar items.

All non-food materials must be supplied locally, and crews of local volunteers will be completely responsible for set up, take down and clean up, as well as storing the monthly supplies and transporting leftovers to local food pantries at Kindness Kottage and Rose Hill Community Food Pantry (and inedible items to local farmers as feed).

The transition is a three-month process, which has just begun in Quitman and will soon be underway in Mineola.

The first month the teams learn the mechanics of the distribution process, timing and quantities.

The second month the supplies are provided locally.

The third month the local team will handle the distribution with the ETFB observing.

Both school districts, which already provide the sites for the distributions, have offered additional support such as equipment storage.

Since distributions began in Quitman in December 2021 and Mineola in October 2022, more than 42,000 families have been assisted.

ETFB reported that each distribution costs about $10,000 in food alone, plus the added costs of transportation, staffing, insurance and supplies.

In assessing these costs, as well as the local volunteer support, about 12 other sites around East Texas were not offered the opportunity to take over distribution.

Rev. Thomas Harper, Greg Hollen and Bill Martin have stepped up to serve as captains for Quitman, while two more captains are sought for Mineola to join Roy Shockey.