In the true spirit of Thanksgiving, PVAMU’s Media Relations Team shared the following release: As the Houston Food Bank (HFB) continues to recover from being forced to toss 1.8 million pounds of food last week due to an ammonia leak, a group of Prairie View A&M University (PVAMU) students has jumped into action.
Sophomore agriculture major Lenaye Palmer is a member of the College of Agriculture and Human Sciences’ (CAHS) Garden Club. She helped organize a donation to the HFB that consisted of vegetables from PVAMU’s Governor Bill and Vara Daniel Farm, along with canned goods.
“Our school was founded on agriculture, so it’s part of our mission to give back to the community,” said Palmer.
So far, the students’ donations, along with donations from PVAMU’s partners, has resulted in a contribution that exceeds 1,800 pounds of food, which is enough to feed 1,000 families over the next three days.
CAHS Dean and Director of Land-Grant Programs Gerard D’Souza, Ph.D., said the combined effort aligns perfectly with the university’s land-grant mission.
“As the only Houston area agricultural university with a farm, it was our duty to step up and help the food bank provide for families in need. We are fulfilling the part of our mission that focuses on helping the underserved.”
The initiative also follows the growing emphasis in the college on food security, one of its signature areas.
“In the end, we want to make sure everyone has access to healthy food,” Palmer added.
Donations from PVAMU partners included Eden Green Technology’s vertical greenhouse in Cleburne, Texas, which donated 1,400 pounds of food from its warehouse in Dallas. Area Congressional Representative Dan Crenshaw (R-TX 2nd District) arranged to cover transportation costs.
In Prairie View, CAHS Cooperative Extension Program Specialist Angela Moore organized a canned food drive, which included students from nearby H.T. Jones Elementary School. The drive was coordinated by The Garden Club’s Research Assistant, Debra Bradford.
“Once [PVAMU Research Scientist] Dr. Laura Carson sent out the email for help, CAHS Program Assistant Chandra Adams helped secure a pallet for the produce, and our Greenhouse Manager, Mr. Rafash Brew, organized the students to harvest the produce,” said Bradford.
An initial drop-off to the HFB took place Nov. 22, followed by another delivery on Nov. 26, just in time for Thanksgiving.
“It warms my heart. It goes back to agriculture and our mission to make sure people have the food they need,” Palmer said.
