Pasadena's Leaders Tout Successful Annual Can Do Food Drive

PASADENA, TEXAS — The eighth annual Pasadena Can Do Food Drive is set to break a record for the amount of food collected this holiday season.

"We've had another very successful Can Do Food Drive," said volunteer Barbara Sitzman. "Each year we have more businesses participating and more people participating."

The City of Pasadena began hosting the annual Can Do Food Drive in 2010, and has noted an annual increase in giving each year.

Volunteers from LyondellBasell, Waste Management, Chevron Phillips Chemical, #WellcareTexanPlus, Pasadena Chamber of Commerce, Pasadena Independent School District and Volco-Bunny Stop 2 helped collect thousands of pounds of canned goods.

Students and staff members from 42 Pasadena area schools took part in the fall food drive collecting more than 40,000 pounds of canned good, officials said.

"The community is so supportive of us...and it is important for our schools to support our community through the food drive," said Dr. Troy McCarley, Associate Superintendent in Pasadena ISD.

Meanwhile, officials with the LyondellBasell’s Houston Refinery upped the ante this year and dramatically increasing its donation to the city of Pasadena’s Can Do Food Drive.

"Giving back is one of the key values for LyondellBasell," said Jerome Mauvigney, director at LyondellBasell's Houston refinery. "We know there are people who are having difficulties and we're here to help..."

On Nov. 15, refinery employees contributed 1,500 pounds of food, surpassing the collection from the 2017 Can Do Food Drive by more than 900 pounds.

Additionally, employees donated canned goods and nonperishable food items to help feed 15 underserved families of students at Richey Elementary in Pasadena ISD.

"We are so blessed to have this in our community," Sitzman said.

The food donations will be distributed to various Pasadena area food pantries.

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Image: Pictured at the Can Do Food Drive are (from left) Pasadena Mayor Jeff Wagner, Houston Refinery Site Manager Jerome Mauvigney and Houston Refinery Maintenance, Facilities and Community Relations Liaison, Denise Jennings. (LyondellBasell)

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