New director at food bank

The Odessa Food Bank's long-time director, Julie Jantz, has retired from that position. Jantz remains as the head of the Odessa Public Library.

Merleen Smith of Odessa has been named the new director of the food bank. Smith has announced that the food bank will be open the last Thursday of each month from 1:30 to 3 p.m., except for the months of November and December when volunteers work to assemble and deliver holiday gift baskets for food bank patrons.

The food bank is sponsored by the Odessa Community Ministerial Association and the many volunteers who contribute time and/or money to keep i...