AUSTIN, Texas — Everyone is feeling the pinch of high prices, especially when it comes to feeding families. Food banks across the state are prepping for an influx of Texans facing food insecurity.
The Central Texas Food Bank says it has seen the highest food insecurity numbers in years, reporting over 600,000 people across 21 counties needing its services. Now, come Nov. 1, that number could increase as they expect 127,000 households may lose their Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. Central Texas Food Bank CEO Sari Vatske said several factors make Texas one of the most food insecure states in the country.
“The cost of living has increased, the cost of food, housing, transportation,” Vatske said.
Because many people can’t afford to live where they work, Vatske said they live in rural areas where there are fewer grocery stores and higher prices.
Vatske said they have seen community partners step up to help. H-E-B announced it will donate $700,000 to the Central Texas Food Bank. But now that the shutdown has reached this point, the Central Texas Food Bank is amping up fundraising efforts and expanding distribution times to include night and weekend hours.