[Tyler, Texas, Aug. 3, 2009]— The Texas Best Smokehouses of Tyler and Longview donated two 80 pound shipments of beef & turkey jerky to be sent to East Texas troops overseas through the Smith County Red Cross Military Resource Center, the first July 27 and the second will be picked Thursday, Aug. 6.

The Red Cross coordinated the transport of these shipments as well as six pounds of gourmet coffee from Texas Best Smokehouse’s Tyler location to the Texas National Guard Armory in Tyler to be shipped overseas. The jerky, worth up to $30 a pound, is valued at approximately $2400 per shipment.

These are two of several shipments that will continue with the generous support of Texas Best Smokehouse's customers.  Texas Best Smokehouse has committed to the "Jerky for the Troops" program and will continue to show support of our troops abroad through the program. 

"Our military does so much for us; it's the least we can do," said a Texas Best Smokehouse representative. 

The jerky will be distributed to the recently deployed 136th Military Police Battalion, 141st Quartermaster Company and 56th BSTV of the Texas Army Reserve and the Texas Army National Guard.

Both the Tyler and Longview Texas Best Smokehouse locations placed signs at their stores and on their counters asking for donations to support the troops, and a Texas Best representative said the Balch Springs location would soon join the initiative as well. Contributions ranging from 50 cents to one or more pounds of jerky purchased and donated total enough for a third shipment to date.

Tambi and Caroline Idris of Texas Best Smokehouse and their management team began the initiative after one of their cashiers, Dustin, began boot camp for security forces of the Air Force. When Dustin returned from boot camp he took 60 pounds of Texas Best Smokehouse jerky with him on his first deployment. When the management team of Texas Best Smokehouse found out what a hit the jerky was with the troops and the positive effect it had on their morale, they committed to sending even more jerky in the future.

A few other employees of Texas Best Smokehouse have been deployed overseas as well.

“That’s why we send jerky,” Caroline Idris said. “It reminds them of Texas—a little taste of home.”

Anyone wanting to show their support of the troops can do so by visiting any of the Texas Best Smokehouse locations in Tyler, Longview and soon in Balch Springs.

Choya Shanahan, director of the Smith County Red Cross Military Resource Center, said, “Within our community, the support for East Texas troops deployed overseas continues to be overwhelming. Without the East Texas community’s help and donations, we would not be able to reach out to these soldiers when they most need help or just a little reminder of home. Thank you is hardly sufficient to say we appreciate this donation.”

For more information on the jerky shipment, contact Choya Shanahan at the Smith County Red Cross at 903-581-7981.