Sunday, May 5, 2024
Renowned KWTX weatherman Rusty Garrett returned for the 34th annual Food for Families food drive following his battle with cancer, which caused him to miss the event in 2022.
Since the start of Gatesville’s Food for Families in 1990, Rusty has returned year-after-year to help raise funds for the city’s donation site. According to KWTX, he has only missed the yearly food drive twice in three decades – once when he had the flu, and last year after learning of his cancer diagnosis and preparing for treatment.
“I am so glad to be back this year and to be making up for lost time because I love this community,” Rusty said.
The Gatesville community welcomed the local legend back with open arms on Friday, Nov. 17. On the morning of the food drive, several Gatesville High School students, band, cheerleaders, and staff hosted a pep rally where they recognized his dedication to Food for Families each year.
“Rusty was extremely appreciative and thanked the Gatesville community for the continued support,” Gatesville ISD wrote on their Facebook page.
The school presented him with a poster of the total pounds that has been raised during his time supporting the drive in Gatesville, which equals to 8,116,369 pounds of food that has served local families and individuals in need.
Deral McWhorter, Director of the Gatesville Care Center and long-time friend of Rusty, said many people who stopped by the Gatesville Fire Station to drop off their donations would also get out of their vehicles to share a word or send a greeting to Rusty.
“Rusty really loves Gatesville, and Gatesville really loves Rusty,” McWhorter said. “He gave all he had to be with us for seven hours, and he told me that he was tired, but that it was a good tired.”
