Interfaith celebrates 45 year anniversary with community-wide food drive

THE WOODLANDS, TX (Thursday, August 30, 2018) — How amazing is it that a man had a vision to create an organization, in his brand new community, whose sole purpose was to build community? That is exactly what The Woodlands Founder, George P. Mitchell, created in The Woodlands Religious Communities, Inc., known as Interfaith of The Woodlands, in 1973.

On October 5, 2018, Interfaith of The Woodlands will celebrate its 45th anniversary with a Day of Caring: A Community-Wide Food Drive in the parking lot of Interfaith of The Woodlands.

The goal? To do what Interfaith of The Woodlands does best: bring together neighbors representing the spiritual, corporate, school, civic, families and individuals of our community in the name of service, to help our neighbors in need and celebrate the past, present and future of our beloved Interfaith.

“Our history as the ‘hometown nonprofit’ has been full of caring about our neighbors through service. This celebration is about the past, but it’s about our future too. We thought the best way to celebrate these 45 years was to go back to our mission: care. Naturally, a food drive is what came to mind. Everyone can give a can of food,” says Missy Herndon, Interfaith’s President and CEO, on developing the celebration observance plans.

Interfaith will host a community-wide food drive with a goal of raising 45,000 pounds of food in honor of its anniversary.

“We want this to be a big birthday party, one where our neighbors do what they’ve always done, which is gather to help each other. Our mission is based on caring and building a more loving community through service, and we continue to do just that as we honor the past 45 years,” Herndon says.

The upcoming celebration will feature local businesses, community leaders, volunteers and staff, all working together to collect food for Interfaith’s food pantry. Interfaith is inviting anyone to participate, as the food panty serves over 18,000 individuals on average annually.

Items can be delivered at Interfaith Central, at 4242 Interfaith Way, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. “We’re hoping to see a caravan of people, just like during Harvey, as neighbors lined up our street to donate and give back,” Herndon says. Any interested parties may go to woodlandsinterfaith.org/dayofcaring for information on how to participate or just show up on October 5.

Interfaith of The Woodlands is a nonprofit social service agency providing programs and services to meet the needs of The Woodlands and the surrounding area. Interfaith provides basic needs assistance and special programs to families experiencing a financial crisis, and supportive service through care and wellness programs to senior adults 62 and over, in addition to many community programs dedicated to improving the lives of individuals in need. For more information on Interfaith’s programs and services or to become a volunteer, please visit woodlandsinterfaith.org or call 281-367-1230.

2018 Interfaith Staff

(l-r) Missy Herndon, President and CEO of Interfaith of The Woodlands, standing with Rev. Don Gebert, Interfaith’s First Executive Director.

Rob Johnson (left), Board Director of Interfaith of The Woodlands, serves a complete Thanksgiving meal to senior adults at the South County Community Center.