The new year marks the 40th anniversary of Montgomery County Food Bank and commemorates the organization’s four-decade commitment to meeting the needs of food-insecure individuals and families.
Montgomery County Food Bank was founded in 1985 by Betty Hardy, whose act of kindness sparked a movement to unite the community to fight hunger.
The agency now provides more than 9 million meals per year.
“The history of the food bank is a reflection of our community’s commitment to helping those in need. We could not feed more than 80,000 children, seniors and families month after month without each of you (in the community),” said Kristine Marlow, president and CEO of Montgomery County Food Bank. “Over the last 40 years, we’ve come a long way in the fight against hunger but there is still important work to be done.”
NEW LIBRARY NAME: Montgomery County rescinded the name of its new library and community center. Here’s why.
How did it start?
Hardy, a resident of Conroe since 1983, volunteered at the Crisis Center in 1985 and started feeding the hungry from her car.
“I got many calls for food, and there was no place to turn to back then,” Hardy said in a 2013 Courier article. “I called a friend, and she suggested we have a meeting. She was neighbors with John Moses, the man who started the Houston Food Bank. My friend told me that he’d help us do this.”
The five people started meeting each Monday at the Village Inn Restaurant in Conroe.
“We each decided to do the part that interested us most,” Hardy said. “I went to the churches and found places to start food pantries. I bought packages of rice and beans with my own money to give out to the families. It took a bunch of us; everybody added to it and left us with something through the years. That’s how we’ve grown. Look at it now.”
Highlights in food bank history
• 2007 – The Food Bank moves into its first warehouse location, a 9,000-square-foot facility purchased with funds from a community development grant.
• 2014 – In response to rapid growth within Montgomery County and a subsequent spike in the need for food assistance, the food bank relocated to its current facility, a 60,000-square-foot warehouse.
• 2017 – The food bank launches its Produce Rescue Center, allowing the organization to save fresh fruits and vegetables from unnecessarily going to the landfill and instead redirect them to the tables of neighbors in need.
• 2023 – The food bank staff broke ground on its “Build Today, Feed Tomorrow” expansion project, which includes renovations to its current facility and an 18,000-square-foot expansion in order to provide an additional 1 million meals per year.
The food bank is located at 1 Food For Life Way in Conroe.
Build today, feed tomorrow
In November, Montgomery County leaders got a first look at the food bank expansion that will open this spring.
Additions include 3,000-plus square feet for the produce rescue area, a 43% increase in cold storage, a new parking area, a new welcome center, 5,000-plus additional square feet for a food storage and work area and a communal gathering spot and volunteer center.
SUBURBAN HIDDEN GEMS: 20 hidden gems worth the drive to Houston’s suburbs: Museums, historic shopping districts and more
A ruby celebration
Montgomery County Food Bank will celebrate its milestone anniversary at its 2025 Fighting Hunger, Feeding Hope Gala Feb. 8 at the Woodlands Waterway Marriott.
This year’s event, titled “A Ruby Celebration: 40 Years of Feeding Hope” will highlight the four-decade journey of the organization.
The gala is the group’s biggest fundraiser. The 2025 gala will also feature an awards ceremony to honor recipients, both individuals and groups, who’ve made astounding strides in the fight against hunger and have impacted the rich legacy of the food bank.
A special award will honor Montgomery County Food Bank founder, Betty Hardy. Tickets for the gala may be found on the Montgomery County Food Bank webpage.
“Thanks to its rich legacy and invaluable community support, Montgomery Couty Food Bank is moving boldly into the future,” Marlow said. “This milestone anniversary is an opportunity for the food bank to honor its unwavering four-decade journey in the fight against hunger with reflection, gratitude, and a renewed commitment to serve those in need.”
If the full content does not display, visit the article originally published on this site
