Pedernales Electric Cooperative’s employees brought more power to the communities they serve by collecting more than five tons of food for Central Texas food banks this summer. Employee donations, with contributions from PEC members at the Co-op’s Annual Meeting, far exceeded the initial goal of 7,500 pounds. Including food donations and an additional $1,100 in cash, checks and grocery gift cards, the total contributions are enough to supply 10,000 meals for local families in need.
The month-long food drive was part of PEC’s ongoing 75th anniversary celebration and represented its commitment to giving back, which is one of the values important to all cooperatives. The idea originated in the spring with a group of employees who proposed that by uniting in a common cause, PEC staff could make a bigger impact with their community giving efforts. PEC Chief Information Officer Lawanda Parnell, who has long believed passionately in the cause to fight hunger, agreed to be the group’s executive sponsor.
“Summer is the perfect time to hold a food drive,” said Parnell, “because school’s out, and that brings hardship to families who rely on having their kids eat at least one meal a day there. It’s natural to think about donating food during the holidays, but the food banks need food year-round, and summers are especially tough for children.”
A majority of the food drive donations benefited the Capital Area Food Bank of Texas, which serves much of Co-op’s 8,100-square-mile service area. Donations made at PEC’s Junction office were given to the food pantry at the First United Methodist Church in Junction, and donations received at the PEC Annual Meeting in Kyle went to the Hays County Food Bank. Visit www.pec.coop/community to find out more about all the ways PEC gives back to the communities it serves.
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