An Interview With Emelie Irving, Executive Director, Southeast Texas Food Bank

"I went so far out on a limb with this," Irving adds, with a barely audible sigh of relief. "If this hadn't worked, I wouldn't be here right now. It is very expensive. Acquisition in particular is very expensive."

Irving says it took three months, three board meetings, many one-on-one conversations and a whole lot of hand holding for her to get the OK to make the investment. One she did, she felt there was only one way to go — hire an agency.