The Rotary Club of The Woodlands is establishing a monthly Wednesday work session at the Montgomery County Food Bank complex in the Woodlands Industrial Park.
Roger Goertz has been a loyal food bank volunteer and a member of the Rotary Club of The Woodlands. He has been a driving force for Rotarians to serve a three-to-four-hour work shift at the recently expanded food bank. The number of food-needy families continue to grow at alarming rates in Montgomery County and nationwide. Rotarians are filling in to satisfy the need for volunteers to sort through tons of vegetables and fruits donated by grocery stores like COSTCO, H. E. B. and Kroger’s to classify the usable from the inedible donated foods. The inedible foods go to pig farms, so nothing is wasted. From this nucleus will grow a monthly volunteer day for Rotarians.
Evan Berline with the Rotary Club of The Woodlands told me, “The Rotary Club of The Woodlands is privileged to host a Breakfast at Truluck’s – The Woodlands on Wednesday, May 6, 2026 from 7:30-9 a.m. The event will honor Kristin Marlow, CEO of the Montgomery County Food Bank, and benefit Lone Star College’s Maverick Care Center. The Maverick Care Center supports students in need by providing essential resources, including a food pantry, clothing closet, and access to valuable campus and community support services. Dr. De’Reese Reid-Hart – President, Lone Star College Montgomery will be the keynote speaker. Tickets are $35 per Woodlands Rotary Member and $50 for others. Thanks to Truluck’s generosity 100% of the funds raised at the Breakfast will go toward Lone Star College’s Maverick Care Center for food, shelving for hygiene products (very small section now with big demand) and mannequins for displaying the professional attire. The Rotary Club of The Woodlands has a long history of partnering with Lone Star College with scholarships, mock interviews, etc. and are stepping up to the dire need of these students. We hope you will join us for this meaningful breakfast!”
Deidra Johnson with the Rotary Club of East Montgomery County reported to me, “The Rotary Club of East Montgomery County welcomed Rhonda Ellisor as the guest speaker for its April 21 luncheon. Representing the Sam Houston State University Small Business Development Center (SBDC), Ellisor shared valuable insights into the wide range of resources available to support local businesses and entrepreneurs. Ellisor explained that the SBDC operates three convenient locations, including the EMCID office in New Caney, the Sam Houston State University campus in Huntsville, and the SHSU campus in The Woodlands. Through these locations, the SBDC provides no-cost advising and support services to help businesses start, grow, and succeed.
She highlighted the many ways the SBDC assists clients, including business planning, selecting a legal structure, preparing for access to capital, sales and marketing strategies, research, accounting, financial analysis, strategic planning, and guidance on certifications and government contracting. One of the most engaging parts of Ellisor’s presentation focused on video marketing, one of the SBDC’s most popular services. She shared that 85% of businesses now use video as part of their marketing strategy, with an impressive 83% return on investment — the highest among media formats. Short-form videos, such as those on YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok, are especially effective, with videos under one minute generating the highest engagement. Viewers also retain up to 95% of a message when watching a video, compared to just 10% when reading text. Rotary members appreciated the practical tools and strategies shared during the presentation, particularly the emphasis on accessible, no-cost resources that can make a significant impact on local businesses. Ellisor, who is also a member of the Rotary Club of Huntsville, was thanked for her informative and engaging presentation and for her continued support of the small business community across the region.”