From one neighbor to 1,000+ families a week.

Meet our founder

Jeannette Valdez Duran

Jeannette was born and raised in East Austin, on Munson Street and in the 78721 neighborhood that Mobile Blessings serves today. Her parents, Steve and Josie Valdez, raised five children; Jeannette is the youngest of four girls, with one younger brother. She graduated from Johnston High School in 1989 and went on to study at Austin Community College and Huston-Tillotson University.

She built a life she was proud of, working as a substitute teacher and later as a dental assistant.

Life was good. Then, in 2005, temptation found her. Addiction pulled her away from everything she loved, and from 2006 to 2009 she lived and hustled on the streets of North Austin.

In 2009 came what Jeannette calls the miracle on Rundberg. Asking for handouts outside the H-E-B on Rundberg Lane, she was stopped over a few days by four different women. Each one told her the same thing: her children were heartsick for her, God had a purpose for her life, and it was time to go home. She called her sister. She went home.

While she recovered, she went to work for her family’s business, Valdez Remodeling and Weatherization, helping repair homes for neighbors in need. And in that season she heard it: a whisper, a calling. She began walking with Christ, and she began to give, making sandwiches and doing whatever she could to feed the people around her.

Then her niece called. The 7-Eleven where she worked was throwing out good food all the time. Could Jeannette take it and share it? She said yes. The rest is history, and today it feeds more than 1,000 families a week.

“When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue faileth for thirst, I the LORD will hear them, I the God of Israel will not forsake them.”

Isaiah 41:17