September Is Hunger Action Month

New research from Feeding Texas suggests food insecurity has doubled among Texas families since Texas’ disaster declaration for COVID-19.

Before the pandemic, 1 in 7 Hays County residents struggled in some way to put consistent nutritious meals on the table. Since the pandemic, that number has grown.

Hays County Food Bank represents a county-wide effort to provide nutritious food to the food insecure in the greater Hays County area.

This is made possible by the generous contributions of individuals, civic organizations, local government, and businesses.

It takes a village, and the food bank relies on the generosity of their community for donations and volunteers. 

Hays County Food Bank and partner agencies of the food bank have served an average of 2,400 individuals each week since the pandemic began.

Nearly 2,000 new households have registered for food assistance since March, most likely seeking help due to the effect of the current pandemic.

The food bank has seen an increase in these new families served, with the majority seeking assistance in April. The food bank anticipates another spike in households needing food assistance in the near future.

The food bank has distributed nearly 700,000 pounds of food in 2020 via weekly drive-through food distributions and through multiple partner agency distributions.

Current partner agencies include school and church pantries, shelters, and other nonprofits serving the low-income population in Hays County.

In 2019, a little more than 1 million pounds was distributed for the entire year. The food bank anticipates surpassing that number this year.

A $25 donation can provide 100 meals through the buying power of the food bank and their partnership with Central Texas Food Bank.

Monetary donations can also ensure food rescue, food storage, food distribution, and nutrition education programs can continue.

Food donations help keep shelves filled, especially with shelf-stable items like canned and dried foods.

If residents would like to donate and have it delivered to the food bank, order through the food bank’s Amazon wish list at http://bit.ly/AmazonHCFB.

Volunteers are the largest source of (hu)man-power of the food bank, with more than 26,000 volunteer hours donated in 2019.

Since the pandemic began, volunteers have been limited for safety reasons.

However, the food bank still needs people to donate time as there is still much to do. If residents would like to volunteer, please visit haysfoodbank.org and click on Give Time.

National Hunger Action Month is a Feeding America effort to raise awareness about the hunger epidemic in the United States and to encourage individuals to take action in some form against hunger.

The food bank encourages those who can help to pledge to take action against hunger in the Hays County community, whether it be by fund or food donation, volunteering, or advocacy.

Learn how residents can get involved at haysfoodbank.org.