HOUSTON (April 27, 2023) – Join Interfaith Ministries for Greater Houston and Galveston County as we help prepare Meals on Wheels seniors for the upcoming hurricane season. Each year, Operation IMpact provides a week’s supply of shelf-stable food to over 5,000 Meals on Wheels seniors in the event asevere storm results in a service disruption.

The 2023 Operation IMpact initiative is presented by lead sponsor CITGO Petroleum Corporation.Interfaith Ministries would also like to thank the project’s County Sponsors Energy Transfer Partners, Kroger, and the Clark and Charlene Thompson Foundation.

“With facilities along the Gulf Coast, we take hurricane preparation seriously,” said Shannon McNary, CITGO Interim General Manager Government and Public Affairs, “and through programs such as Operation IMpact wecan help extend that same preparation to our local communities. Helping seniors prepare for potential severe weather events also aligns with our goal to help build community resilience.”

Each weekday, Interfaith Ministries’ Meals on Wheels program serves over 5,000 homebound seniorswith prepared meals. During a severe weather incident, it can be dangerous and sometimes impossible fordelivery drivers to reach every Meals on Wheels senior. The Operation IMpact initiative provides enough shelf-stable food to weather any storm and our seniors have come to rely on these supplies to shelter in place safely. Like our daily Meals on

Wheels deliveries, the Operation IMpact supplies allow our seniors to remain in their homes withnutritious meals while the danger outside subsides.

Operation IMpact relies on volunteers to help make this special delivery to our Meals on Wheels seniors. Everyyear, volunteers from across the city sign up to deliver shelf-stable food in early June. If you are interested involunteering with Operation IMpact, sign up at https://www.imgh.org/donate/meals/operation-impact-2023/ by May 30. The Harris County project will take place the morning of Saturday, June 3rd in Midtown Houston and the Galveston County event will take place the morning of Saturday, June 10th in La Marque.

In addition to being a volunteer opportunity, Operation IMpact also offers options to sponsor a route,pickup site, or even a county. For more information regarding sponsorship opportunities, please visithttps://www.imgh.org/donate/meals/operation-impact-2023/

Food costs have increased greatly due to inflation and project expenses have almost doubled since lastyear.

“Unfortunately, our program has not been immune to inflation, and we have seen our costs double since last year,” said Ali Al Sudani, Chief Programs Officer with Interfaith Ministries for Greater Houston, “as anorganization that serves the most vulnerable population it is crucial that we continue to provide this resourceevery storm season.”

ABOUT INTERFAITH MINISTRIES FOR GREATER HOUSTON

A United Way partner, Interfaith Ministries for Greater Houston (Interfaith Ministries) brings people of diverse faith traditions together for dialogue, collaboration, and service, as a demonstration of our shared beliefs. Interfaith Ministries provides four main services: Meals on Wheels for Greater Houston and Galveston County which delivers more than 1.7 million meals each year to homebound seniors and people with disabilities across five counties; Refugee Services which, in conjunction with the U.S. State Department, resettles thousands of refugees in Houston; Interfaith Relations and Community Partnerships, which providescommunity services fostering understanding, respect and engagement among Houstonians of all faiths; the Vic Samuels Center for Volunteerism and Civic Service, which establishes a positive and lasting impact on the Greater Houston community through organized service and leadership through Volunteer Houston and SERVE HOUSTON. For more information, visit https://www.imgh.org/.

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