SAN ANTONIO \u2013 About 20% of Bexar County families face food insecurity, and local organizations are working together to connect those families with resources during Hunger Action Month in September.<\/p>\n
Angelica Montelongo, a San Antonio resident who has experienced food insecurity firsthand, said the financial pressure has grown harder to manage.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s getting worse. With $40 you can\u2019t buy that much food or anything,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Montelongo said a fixed income stretches only so far. <\/p>\n
\u201cRetirement is not enough to be paying for gas, food, electricity and all those bills,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Food insecurity rarely arrives on its own, according to Angelica Cervantes, deputy CEO of YWCA San Antonio.<\/p>\n
\u201cFood insecurity often shows up alongside housing instability, employment issues, workforce issues. It shows up alongside childcare accessibility, wage concerns, it shows up along these other circumstances that oftentimes continue to build stress,\u201d Cervantes said.<\/p>\n
Dozens of organizations across San Antonio, including the YWCA, are working together through the Health Equity Network to connect families with food resources and reduce barriers to healthy food. Cervantes said the network offers more than a food pantry.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe want to make sure they\u2019re provided with access to our food pantry,\u201d Cervantes said. \u201cA lot of programs integrate stipends where individuals have access to direct cash assistance as well. They can purchase additional groceries or be able to use those funds to address other emergency needs that came up. They\u2019re not having to choose between a medical expense or vehicle repair and food.\u201d<\/p>\n
For Montelongo, the support has made a tangible difference. <\/p>\n
\u201cIn a way yes, it\u2019s not as stressful as when we didn\u2019t have this help,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
The Health Equity Network serves more than 30,000 people in Bexar County each year.<\/p>\n