Texas Border Business
McAllen, TX–Michelle Lea Zamora was recently elected President of the Food Bank of the Rio Grande Valley Board of Directors.
The Food Bank of the Rio Grande Valley began in 1983 as the Pharr Area Emergency Food Pantry.
In 1986, it was incorporated and became a Food Bank serving 13 agencies providing 200,000 pounds of food in its first year.
In 1991, it became an affiliate of “Feeding America” and moved into its first self owned facility in McAllen.
By 2000 the Food Bank was serving 165 agencies in Hidalgo, Cameron, Willacy & Starr Counties with 13 million pounds of food. Clearly, they needed a larger facility.
In 2005, the Food Bank purchased the Valley Fruit Company facility in Pharr and operates there today. Last year, the Food Bank distributed over 45 million pounds of food and feeds an average of 42,000 people weekly through a network of over 250 partner agencies.
In addition, the Food Bank has many other programs including Commodity Supplemental Food Program to elderly, provides schools supplies to elementary schools, provides help for applying for government assistance and the WIC program. And the list goes on. Volunteers are always needed as well as donations, and a $5 donation can provide 25 healthy meals for kids in need.
“I am honored and humbled to be serving as President of this organization which has a strong staff and a professional working board of directors”. She said, “There are many reasons people in our community are food insecure and seek assistance from the Food Bank of the Rio Grande Valley. Unfortunately, hunger does not discriminate. Therefore, I believe in this cause and our mission to be passionately committed to improving lives through food assistance, nutrition education, and access to community services”, Zamora concluded.
Her other civic involvement includes, United Way of South Texas board member, Mission Chamber of Commerce board member, Mission CISD District Educational Improvement Committee member, Business Development Fund of South Texas trustee and the Risk Management Association – RGV board member.
Zamora has been in banking for over 15 years and is currently First Vice President at Inter National Bank (INB) as a Commercial Lender. She provides personalized customer service and concentrates her efforts in the Health Care Industry. “The greatest part of what I do is connecting with people, understanding their objectives and provide financial solutions to attain their goals”, said Zamora.
