The annual Pounds of Plenty food drive benefits the local Shepherd’s Heart Food Pantry. Visitors are encouraged to come by the museum that morning to drop off non-perishable food items or monetary donations. There are also several local businesses including a number of banks and restaurants collecting items in advance of that time. All will be turned in that day.

The June event commemorates Gov. Dan Moody’s June birthday and visitors are offered refreshments and an opportunity to tour the museum.

The food drive fits in well with the Governor’s history since in 1927 when he and his new bride, Mildred Paxton Moody, moved into the Governor’s Mansion the East Texas Chamber of Commerce held a “pounding” and stocked the pantry at the mansion for the newlyweds. A pounding was a common occurrence in the 1800s and early 1900s where family members and friends would each donate a pound of meat or flour or some other staple to stock the larder of the new home.