Michael Adkison/Houston Public Media
Houston Food Bank workers supply federal employees with groceries during a drive on Oct. 29, 2025.
As the federal government shutdown now extends past the previous record, Houston-area nonprofits are holding food drives and other services for Texans who haven’t received paychecks or SNAP benefits.
“If we go another week, then that’ll be two full paychecks, plus a partial paycheck, that will be missing by the federal employees,” Brian Greene, president and CEO of Houston Food Bank, said. “And, of course, the SNAP households stopped having their cards reloaded on the first [of November], and every day that goes by is an additional 15,000 Houston-area households that will not have their cards reloaded. It’s going to get worse as we go on.”
Here are all of Houston Food Bank’s food drives scheduled so far for November:
Nov. 6
Community of Faith Church, 3 p.m.—7 p.m.
Nov. 7
Hearts and Hands Baytown, 8 a.m.—12 p.m.
Nov. 8
Houston ISD’s Hattie Mae White Educational Support Center, 8 a.m.—12 p.m.
Northwest Assistance Ministries, 8 a.m.—1 p.m.
Catholic Charities—Richmond, 9:30 a.m.—1 p.m.
Nov. 10
West Houston Assistance Ministries, 9 a.m.—12 p.m.
Nov. 11
Bethel’s Heavenly Hands, 8 a.m.—1 p.m.
Nov. 13
Community of Faith Church, 3 p.m.—7 p.m.
Nov. 14
Hearts and Hands Baytown, 8 a.m.—1 p.m.
Nov. 15
Northwest Assistance Ministries, 8 a.m.—1 p.m.
Catholic Charities—Richmond, 9:30 a.m.—1 p.m.
Nov. 17
West Houston Assistance Ministries, 8 a.m.—12 p.m.
Nov. 18
Bethel’s Heavenly Hands, 8 a.m.—1 p.m.
Nov. 20
Community of Faith Church, 3 p.m.—7 p.m.
Nov. 21
Hearts and Hands Baytown, 8 a.m.—1 p.m.
Nov. 22
Northwest Assistance Ministries, 8 a.m.—1 p.m.
Nov. 24
West Houston Assistance Ministries, 8 a.m.—12 p.m.
Nov. 29
Catholic Charities—Richmond, 9:30 a.m.—1 p.m.
Other events
The YMCA of Greater Houston hosts weekly food drives in different parts of southeast Texas. Their drives take place at Willow Creek Apartments in Houston on Monday and Tuesday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Tellepsen Family Downtown YMCA in Houston on Tuesday and Thursday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.; and Mission Woods Pantry in Spring on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The Heights Interfaith Ministries Food Pantry hosts food drives on Thursdays from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at their location next to Travis Elementary School.
How you can help
These organizations are also asking for assistance from the community to help provide food.
Houston Food Bank is taking donations, both monetary and in food, on their website, saying $1 provides enough food for three meals.
Catholic Charities is asking for food donations, which can be dropped off at its offices in Houston, Fort Bend, or Galveston. They’re also asking for volunteers to sort, bag, and distribute food, or to consider organizing a food drive.
Earlier this week, the Spring Branch chapter of Veterans of Foreign Wars announced a food drive for military service members in Fort Hood. The drive continues through Friday evening, and the food donations will be brought to Fort Hood on Saturday.