Community Awareness blogger Johnna Roberts is an 18-year resident of Pearland’s east side. She is in the travel business and serves on the board of the Pearland Neighborhood Center. Her passions are community involvement and travel. Her husband David Roberts owns an environmental safety and training company in Houston and is passionate about environmental issues pertaining to the Pearland community.

The Pearland Neighborhood Center has been serving the community since 1987. Prior to that, the city of Pearland had virtually no health or human service agencies serving the needs of its citizens. It was then that a group of community volunteers, acting with a venture grant from the United Way of Brazoria County, opened the doors of the Pearland Neighborhood Center (PNC). Since its inception the PNC has been fulfilling the needs of residents of Pearland and the northern end of Brazoria county. Funding now comes from businesses, industry, individuals, grants, United Way, and the annual ball.

Pearland Neighborhood Center maintains a food pantry providing low income families with small children and senior citizens in the community some of the staples they need such as canned goods, breads, and other non-perishables. Special community food drives throughout the year help to fill the pantry shelves. The food pantry also provides food baskets to the needy that include a turkey for the holidays. In an effort to provide those in need during the holidays, PNC participates in the “Share Your Holidays” event which provides meals and gifts for designated families.

On Monday, November 23rd the PNC, in conjunction with the Houston Food Bank, will be hosting a “Community Food Fair” from 10:00am until 3:00 pm at the PNC office located at 2335 N. Texas Avenue in Pearland. Recipients of food baskets must participate in two short presentations which provide awareness of programs available to them from Skills for Living and Texas WIC to help improve their situation.

Citizens who would like to assist in helping our less fortunate neighbors are encouraged to donate “turkey bucks’ from local grocery stores, non-perishable food items, or make cash contributions to the PNC. Special appreciation is given to all volunteers, individuals, groups, and businesses for their contributions which help to improve the quality of life for many in the Pearland area. If you would like to help PNC help others, give them a call at 281-485-1987. For more information please visit www.pnctexas.com.