Each episode, host Chris Doelle sits down with someone playing a vital role in the Food Bank of the Golden Crescents mission of “Helping Heal the Hurt of Hunger.”

Host: Chris Doelle Guest: Dr. Jennifer Kent, President of Victoria College

Episode Summary: Dr. Jennifer Kent discusses the mission of Victoria College and its vital partnership with the Food Bank of the Golden Crescent to support student success by removing barriers like food insecurity.

Key Topics • Dr. Kent’s Background: A ninth-generation Texan with 29 years in education, she returned to the region after starting her career in Port Lavaca. • Victoria College Mission: Focused on changing lives and providing upward economic mobility through a trained regional workforce. • The Pirate Pantry: • Purpose: To eliminate the shame of asking for help and provide essential supplies to students, many of whom are first-generation college students or parents. • Location: Highly visible on the first floor of the new Student Success Center. • Offerings: Includes non-perishable staples (pasta, rice, beans), refrigerated perishable items, and non-food essentials like diapers, formula, and toiletries. • Operations: Open Monday–Thursday; students can receive up to 10 food items and 5 non-food items per week. • Educational Pathways: The college provides a “front door” for everyone, ranging from GED and adult education to quick certifications and pathways toward Master’s degrees in partnership with local universities. • Community Support: The pantry relies on donations from the Food Bank, college employees, and the local Victoria community.

Food donations always welcome at the Food Bank year-round.

The Title Sponsor is H-E-B’s Hunger Relief Program. H-E-B’s Hunger Relief Program works year-round to fight hunger in Texas and Mexico. Hunger relief has been a key focus for H-E-B since the first store opened in 1905. For more than a century now, H-E-B’s commitment and involvement in the communities it serves has been an important part of the way the company does business. Since the inception of the Hunger Relief Program, H-E-B has donated over 1 billion pounds of food to help nourish neighbors in communities throughout Texas and Mexico.

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Each episode, host Chris Doelle sits down with someone playing a vital role in the Food Bank of the Golden Crescents mission of “Helping Heal the Hurt of Hunger.”

In this episode of Hunger Action Heroes, host Chris Doelle sits down with Catherine Chapman and Sydney Harness of East Point Energy to talk about the company’s growing presence in Victoria County, its work in utility-scale battery storage, and how projects like these help support grid reliability, energy resilience, and long-term community investment. The conversation also explores East Point’s connection to Equinor, why Texas is such an important energy market, and how the company is working to be a strong local partner as it expands in the region. Source Source Source Chris, Catherine, and Sydney also discuss what community engagement looks like on the ground — from relationships with the Victoria Economic Development Corporation and conversations around Bloomington ISD, to meeting families at Tejas Fest and learning more about the Crossroads community through local connections and coverage in the Victoria Advocate. It’s a conversation about energy, yes — but also about people, partnership, and showing up in meaningful ways. Source The episode also highlights East Point Energy’s support of the Food Bank of the Golden Crescent during the food bank’s 40th anniversary year. Catherine and Sydney share why supporting hunger relief felt like such a natural fit for their team and why they’re excited to take part in the celebration, including the food bank’s Singo Bingo 40th anniversary fundraiser — a fun-filled event featuring bingo, an air guitar contest, lip sync performances, games, raffles, and more.

Food donations always welcome at the Food Bank year-round.

The Title Sponsor is H-E-B’s Hunger Relief Program. H-E-B’s Hunger Relief Program works year-round to fight hunger in Texas and Mexico. Hunger relief has been a key focus for H-E-B since the first store opened in 1905. For more than a century now, H-E-B’s commitment and involvement in the communities it serves has been an important part of the way the company does business. Since the inception of the Hunger Relief Program, H-E-B has donated over 1 billion pounds of food to help nourish neighbors in communities throughout Texas and Mexico.

Find us on every major podcast directory!

Each episode, host Chris Doelle sits down with someone playing a vital role in the Food Bank of the Golden Crescents mission of “Helping Heal the Hurt of Hunger.”

Guest: Valerie Fowler, Community Engagement Director, Food Bank of the Golden Crescent Host: Chris Doelle

About Valerie 1 Joined the Food Bank after leaving a remote tech job that lacked fulfillment 2 Started in event coordination & social media; grew into the Community Engagement Director role 3 Oversees marketing, fundraising, events, and sponsorships

Singo Bingo — 40th Anniversary Celebration 1 Date: Saturday, April 25th 2 Venue: Victoria College Emerging Technology Center 3 Doors open: 5:00 PM | Bingo starts: 6:00 PM 4 Theme: Glow in the dark / black light — casual dress, come as you are 5 Tickets: $40 general admission | VIP tables available (extra bingo book, meal/drink ticket, goodies)

What to Expect 1 Traditional bingo games (state-licensed) 2 Lip sync battle & air guitar contest (inflatable guitars provided) 3 “Finish the Lyrics” challenge 4 Silent auction & 50/50 raffle 5 Menu: beef enchilada casserole, rice, beans, chips & salsa, plus desserts/snacks by sponsor Creative Stage Events

Why It Matters 1 Every $1 raised = 8 meals provided to the community 2 Food bank demand continues to rise; supplies are critically low 3 Funds go directly back into fighting hunger in the Golden Crescent community

Get Involved 1 Tickets & info: tfbgc.org → Singo Bingo page (QR code on posters around town) 2 Sponsorships: Starting at $200/year — includes social media/website promotion; top tiers include podcast ad or a dedicated episode on Hunger Action Heroes 3 Volunteers needed for event setup, the event itself, and teardown 4 Contact Valerie: valerie@tfbgc.org or call the Food Bank and ask for Valerie

Food donations always welcome at the Food Bank year-round.

The Title Sponsor is H-E-B’s Hunger Relief Program. H-E-B’s Hunger Relief Program works year-round to fight hunger in Texas and Mexico. Hunger relief has been a key focus for H-E-B since the first store opened in 1905. For more than a century now, H-E-B’s commitment and involvement in the communities it serves has been an important part of the way the company does business. Since the inception of the Hunger Relief Program, H-E-B has donated over 1 billion pounds of food to help nourish neighbors in communities throughout Texas and Mexico.

Find us on every major podcast directory!