According to a news release from the food bank, Texas has the second-highest rate of food insecurity in the U.S., meaning a lack of consistent access to food for every person in a household. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1 in 6 Texas households, or 1.7 million families, meet the definition of being food insecure.
Breaking it down
In October, Montgomery County Food Bank saw:
- 95,163 individual client contacts
- 80 partner agencies assisting, including food pantries, schools and senior living facilities
- The second-highest monthly outreach in the food bank’s history since it hit an all-time high in mid-2020
Dig deeper
The rising cost of groceries and other essentials is contributing to the need, according to food bank officials.
Since early 2022, the food bank has been dealing with a limited supply of resources, according to the news release.
"Our community is facing an unprecedented level of need for food assistance, and the demand continues to rise,” said Kristine Marlow, president and CEO of the Montgomery County Food Bank. “The escalating costs of living have put strain on many families, making it challenging for them to put food on the table.”
Marlow urged members of the community to donate or volunteer. Some ways people can help include:
- Visit www.mcfoodbank.org to sign up for a volunteer shift.
- Make a donation where every $1 provides up to four meals.
