Central Texas Food Bank Receives Nasty Note From Anonymous Letter Writer

AUSTIN, TX — Well, bah humbug! A nasty, anonymous letter writer took the Central Texas Food Bank to task in a letter essentially for performing its mission of feeding the hungry and homeless.

"I don't understand who these poor folks are that need food," the letter began, as reported by the blog site Giving City Austin. "I assume they consist primarily of illegals who came to Texas for 'free stuff.' And, of course, our Africans, who find work too much trouble especially when they can collect the equivalent of $40,000 a year on welfare and other 'benefits' offered to the unfit, the lazy and the under-educated and, of course, the drug addicts."

The bigoted nature of the correspondence is another example in a growing list that highlights the divisions in worldview and ideology that emerged from the polarizing general election. A spokesman confirmed to the website that such missives have become more common lately than in the past.

Identifying himself/herself simply as "Citizen Robespierre," the letter writer betrays that political motivation by adding that those needing food are probably the same people "...marching around whining that the congenital liar, Hillary Rodham Clinton, lost the election."

The food bank spokesman for the food bank acknowledged being shocked by the letter, especially given the near-equal split of recipients for its offerings — one-third of recipients call identify themselves as white, the same percentage for African Americans or Latinos.

But race and ethnicity of those benefiting isn't really the point: “It’s important that we don’t categorize the people we serve as takers," Paul Gaither, the food bank's spokesman, said. “Most of the people we serve have fallen on hard times or are the working poor who just can’t make ends meet, and that can happen to anyone.”

Still, he acknowledged was breathtaking given its utter lack of empathy or sympathy for those less fortunate: "The lack of empathy was disturbing," Gaither said. "Most of the letters we receive say things like 'we don't have anything to contribute' or 'please take me off your list,' but this one was a little different," he told the website.

The letter came inside a food-bank-provided envelope as part of a recent direct mail campaign.

Central Texas Food Bank serves roughly 46,000 people every week throughout 21 counties, including Travis and Williamson. Its work is performed with the cooperation of 250 partner agencies such as food pantries and soup kitchens. About one-third of the people it serves are children, according to information on its website.

While the nasty note has the potential to take the wind out of their sails. the staff at the food bank will continue its altruistic mission, undeterred by the mean-spirited nature of the mailed missive: “We serve people in need and we’re not going to turn away anybody," Gaither said.

Currently, Central Texas Food Bank officials are promoting a matching donation grant to help needy people over the holidays: "Thanks to a generous matching gift challenge from Beaumont Foundation and Texas Jacobson Aviation, for every $10 you donate, you can provide 80 meals for your Central Texas neighbors this holiday season," officials announce on their website. To learn more, click here.

The food bank accepts donations of $5 and up. While a $10 provides 80 meals to "neighbors in need," a $25 gift yields 200 meals and $50 feeds 400. In the upper donation tier, $500 provides 4,000 meals, $250 yields 2,000 and $100 creates 800.

To donate a gift amount, click here.

>>> Read the full story at Giving City Austin

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