Remembering Last Memorial Day Weekend

by, Hays County Food Bank

It’s been one year since devastating waters swept through much of Hays County, leaving some homeless, some without vehicles, and even taking a few lives. San Marcos and Wimberley were hit the hardest, having so many homes located along the banks of flooded rivers. Bridges were wiped out, roads washed away, and people’s lives were tossed into turmoil. However, the people of Hays County, the state of Texas, and even people from across the nation turned up in response to help those in need.

Volunteers came from many areas to help with the clean-up. They removed debris, fixed up houses, and helped out agencies with their response. The Hays County Food Bank saw a 175% increase in new volunteers from May to June after the Memorial flooding took place. Volunteers helped with the seven emergency food distributions, regular food distributions, weighing and sorting through the increased amount of food donations, and everything else required of them during the Food Bank’s response to the crisis. They also helped with other everyday operations in helping to serve the average of nearly 12,000 individuals a month.

Food donations poured in from generous donors, including those shipped from across the nation through Amazon. In the ten days following the flood, the Hays County Food Bank processed 47 tons of food and distributed 31 tons of this to individuals in need and to partner agencies. Unfortunately not all food donated is fit for human consumption, which is why volunteers sorted through the food to make sure those in need received only edible food items. The rest of the food was kept for distributions for the upcoming weeks.

Over 400 households (1,438 individuals) were supplied with food in the ten days immediately following Memorial Day. Food was given out at the six regular Food Bank distributions, seven emergency food distributions in San Marcos, Wimberley, and Martindale, to people coming directly to the Food Bank for services, and to agencies who were also responding to flood relief.

While it has been a full year since the Memorial Weekend Flood, some families and individuals are still feeling the impact. Some were forced out of their homes again during the October flood, some were completely uprooted and have been unable to return home, and others now rely on the Food Bank’s services for food in order to survive. The Hays County Food Bank relies on food and fund donations from the community in order to provide for all of those in need in Hays County. Please visit www.HaysFoodBank.org to find out more ways you can help.