H-E-B will help refill supply at food bank

H-E-B announced Wednesday that it will help replenish a portion of the 1.8 million pounds of food contaminated by an ammonia leak at the Houston Food Bank.

The company said over the next several days it plans to send at least three truckloads of various produce, meats and dry goods.

“We were just amazed and gratified, because this is a tremendous donation that they’re providing us,” said Amy Ragan, the food bank’s chief development officer. “They’re bringing back the type of products and items that we lost, and we couldn’t be more grateful and appreciative.”

The food bank lost the food after a fan broke last week in a storage room. A line containing ammonia that cools the space was severed, and all the nonprofit’s refrigerated food had to be thrown out.

The loss dealt a blow to food pantries across Houston that depend on the food bank.

It’s unclear how much of the food H-E-B can replace. The company is working closely with food bank president Brian Green, said Lisa Helfman, director of the H-EB’s public affairs division in Houston.

“It’s just such a major loss for them that we’re trying to do as much as we can in a quick time period,” she said, adding that trucks likely will start arriving by the end of the week.

Helfman said the company will also send volunteers to help restock the storage rooms. H-E-B works with the food bank yearround, she said.

“We’re always going to work with the food bank, whether it’s this ammonia crisis or after Harvey,” she said.

United Airlines on Wednesday also announced a campaign to support the food bank, pledging to match up to $100,000 in individual donations. Additionally, MileagePlus members who donate at least $50 will earn up to 1,000 award miles, the airline said.