Progress continues on Southeast Texas Food Bank distribution center

The Southeast Texas Food Bank is expanding its reach by establishing a second distribution center in Jasper, enhancing its service to eight neighboring counties. The construction of the J.H. Rowe Resource Center is currently in progress, showcasing visible advancements in framing, flooring and various project components with the anticipation of opening this summer.

Situated along U.S. Highway 190, the J.H. Rowe Resource Center is strategically designed to aid the region during significant storm events. In the event of damage, inaccessibility or overwhelming demand at the main hub on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard in Beaumont, this new center will serve as an alternate distribution point, ensuring continuity of operations for the food bank.

While the Beaumont location pres- ently caters to the entire eight-county region, the mobile pantry program has been actively supporting over 5,000 families across 25 sites, primarily located in Sabine, Tyler, Polk, Jasper, and Newton counties since 2021. The J.H. Rowe Resource Center is poised to streamline resources and efficiently distribute them to residents of Jasper, Newton, Tyler, and Sabine counties from its expansive 68,000-square-foot facility.

Jasper County Judge Mark Allen, a board member of the Southeast Texas Food Bank, expressed gratitude to various contributors, including Harvey Zernial and board members of the Southeast Texas Food Bank, Diane Rashall and board members of the Jasper-Newton Counties Public Health District, Superintendent John Seybold and the Jasper ISD school board trustees, the Jasper County and Newton County Commissioners Courts, Eddie Hopkins and JEDCO, and the T.L.L. Temple Foundation for their collaborative efforts in bringing the J.H. Rowe Resource Center closer to realization.

Allen emphasized the importance of the new location during emergency situations, citing the challenges faced during Hurricane Harvey when distribution points were inaccessible. The J.H. Rowe Resource Center will ensure a sustained nutrition-based partnership during such times.

Beyond emergency situations, the resource center will serve as the primary office for the Jasper-Newton Counties Public Health District during non-emergent times and offer a comprehensive range of medical services, including immunizations and nutritional education for families and their children. Services will also extend to primary care appointments, free mammograms for women age 18 to 64 without sufficient health insurance, and free STD and STI testing.

Allen revealed ongoing plans for additional agencies to provide essential services at the new site, aligning with the shared goal of improving health, nutrition, and overall quality of life for families in Jasper County and the Southeast Texas region. The resource center will also be equipped to assist evacuees from surrounding communi- ties in the event of an emergency