MPC Galveston Bay refinery supports community mission to end hunger in Galveston County

The Galveston County Food Bank (GCFB), located in Texas City, is leading the fight against local hunger by providing easy access to nutritional food for economically disadvantaged and underserved community members.

During the pandemic, obtaining nutritional food has been challenging for many. An increased number of individuals and families are experiencing financial crisis and other added obstacles with approximately 53,000 residents facing food insecurity in Galveston County.

GCFB distributes over 500,000 pounds of food monthly to residents in need through a network of collaborating agencies, schools and mobile host sites. Marathon Petroleum Corp. (MPC) has proudly supported GCFB for many years.

Last year during the COVID-19 outbreak, Vice President of Refining at the Galveston Bay Refinery Kevin Bogard, recognized the increased importance of MPC’s ongoing efforts to support our community and encouraged his direct reports to look for opportunities to similarly make an impact.

“When Mr. Bogard learned of pandemic related food needs in our community, he immediately called on his staff to make personal investments in addition to local philanthropic dollars that MPC awarded to the Galveston County Food Bank,” said MPC State Government Affairs Director, Lavelle Edmondson. “This helped the agency meet the needs of the community and created an even stronger partnership between our organizations.”

The GBR leadership team’s personal donations, along with matching funds from MPC, contributed over $10,000 to the food bank in addition to direct corporate contributions throughout the year.

Recently, Bogard and Edmondson joined GCFB President and CEO Donnie Van Ackeren for a tour of the food bank’s main facility.

MPC co-ops are a regular feature at the GCFB. MPC Human Resources Business Partner, Sheri Sheffel said, “Volunteering is something that we try to do with each of our co-op groups to get them out and active in the community during their experience here.”

Most recently, the Spring co-ops spent an afternoon volunteering at the food bank. They compiled boxes of food for the homebound as part of the GCFB Homebound Nutritional Outreach program, dedicated to providing monthly food boxes to seniors or persons with disabilities who do not have the means or health to visit the main facility or access mobile pantries.

The GCFB also provides resources beyond food, connecting individuals and families to other agencies and services that can assist with needs such as child care, job placement, family therapy, healthcare and other resources that can help get them back on their feet and on the path to recovery and/or self-sufficiency.