Regena Taylor is grateful for every bit of food that is donated to the Fort Worth food bank she operates with her husband. But without money to pay the electricity bill, it's sometimes difficult to keep giant refrigerators running that store perishable items.
"We're feeding 450 families a day. It's a mission," said Taylor, the executive director of the Community Food Bank on Galvez Street in east Fort Worth. "But we struggle with operating costs."
So Taylor wiped away joyful tears this week when her non-profit was chosen as one of five local organizations to benefit from a General Motors Foundation grant. The food bank was presented Tuesday with a $7,000 check, which Taylor called "perfect timing."
As part of the 60th anniversary celebration at the General Motors Arlington Assembly Plant, Governor Rick Perry and other dignitaries were on hand as grants totaling $56,000 were handed out.
In addition to the Community Food Bank contribution, the United Way of Tarrant County received $25,000; the Arlington ISD, $10,000; Junior Achievement of the Chisholm Trail, $7,000 and Parents Step Ahead, $7,000.
GM officials said that through the Plant City Grants program, the GM Foundation this year will provide more than $1.7 million to 209 organizations in 45 plant cities.
"The grants are given to organizations that provide much-needed services to help improve the quality of life within the communities where GM employees live and work," said GM Foundation President Vivian Pickard.
Since its inception in 1976, the GM Foundation has donated hundreds of millions of dollars to American charities, educational organizations and disaster relief efforts worldwide. The foundation focuses on supporting education, health and human services, the environment and community development initiatives, mainly in the communities where GM operates.
Taylor said this is the third year that the food bank has benefitted from a General Motors Foundation donation.
The facility provides free food to families directly and surplus is donated to other local non-profit food groups. Around 25-45 volunteers help keep the 40,000 square-foot warehouse running and ample donations from companies as large as Walmart keep food in stock.
But with annual electricity bills of $60,000, financial contributions are always put toward practical expenses, she said.
Taylor said the food bank fills an important gap among needy families: it operates without regard to a client's zip code, a practice which she said can hamper some from receiving the food they need.
"We don't want anyone to fall through the cracks," Taylor said.
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