(Seguin) — Guadalupe County is doing its part to make sure families do not go hungry by approving a $100,000 check.
Explaining that check to the San Antonio Food Bank is Guadalupe County Judge Kyle Kutscher.
“In last year’s budget, we made allocations of America Rescue Plan Act funding to a number of different projects and or entities. One of them was the San Antonio Food Bank in the amount of $100,000. The San Antonio Food Bank was very instrumental in not only helping the county but all citizens within the county, the public during the pandemic on making sure we had viable and reoccurring food sources for individuals that were in need. They were basically present in Guadalupe County helping out prior to the pandemic and have continued a high level of service to the public and literally have been wonderful partners to every entity within Guadalupe County. You can call them at any point and say you need help and they come running. So, I know we all approved this in the budget. This is basically just part of the process to solidify the request for the $100,000 from the America Rescue Plan Act fund that our grant administrators have reviewed,” said Kutscher.
Thanking the county for its support is Mario Obledo, the chief of government and public affairs officer with the San Antonio Food Bank.
“Thank you for the leadership and the support that you provide to your county and to the food bank so we can nourish those that need our assistance. Judge, you mentioned before the pandemic, yes, we were serving and during the pandemic served and post pandemic still serving and I do want to recognize Patrick Pinder, Allie and staff for all the support they have given us to nourish folks by way of partners, the Navarro ISD, Schertz-Cibolo at Steele High School and Clemens and Marion and we are hoping to have some more distributions elsewhere in the county so we can serve the county as a whole. So, I did want to recognize that. So, this support that ya’ll have before you today on the agenda is going to help us nourish the families of Guadalupe County and do know that we are only a phone call or text away so in any type of natural disaster or an event like that gas leak a year and a half ago or so, we will be there. We will mobilize and we will serve your residents,” said Obledo.
Kutscher says these last few years have more than illustrated the impact that the food bank had on folks especially those who don’t necessarily face a hardship with food.
“Mario, I can’t say thank you enough. I’m glad you brought up the gas leak because I think there was that issue in Seguin on that repair basically during a repair, a line was hit (and) it drained the gas during cold temperatures in the city of Seguin. When the operations center had some initial meetings with the city, I think it was that afternoon or the next morning, the food bank was there and within two days had a major food distribution set up. I mean those are the kinds of partners that we have and again, that were here before and will be here after all these events took place so I just want to say thank you to them and I look forward to continuing our partnership together,” said Kutscher.
During his comments to the court, Obledo especially gave thanks to one commissioner in particular.
“Judge, one last thing. I do want to recognize the full court for the support but also Commissioner Seidenberger who you tasked early on to be that POC that we would work with and he is great to work with and a great support and basically, I call him the Food Jar for Guadalupe County to help get nutrition to households so Commissioner Seidenberger, thank you for your leadership,” said Obledo.
Approval of the funds for the food bank was made during Tuesday’s meeting of the Guadalupe County Commissioners Court.