The Hays County Commissioners approved a $1,199,008.82 grant agreement with the Hays County Food Bank on Dec. 20 for a potential new facility. The funding comes from the county’s $44.7 million allocation of Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds, under the American Rescue Plan Act.
Food banks and pantries across the nation saw an increase in need throughout the pandemic, according to agenda documents. Widespread job disruption was also prevalent, which disproportionately affected women, low-income communities and people of color, leading to a food insecurity.
The HCFB is located at 220 Herndon St., San Marcos, with around 2,250 square feet of space to distribute around 93,000 pounds of food each month. However, the facility is not large enough for the staff to accept large donations.
The food bank staff hope to build a new, 30,000-square-foot facility on Reimer Avenue in San Marcos with the $1 million grant. The 4 acres of land the proposed facility is on is adjacent to The Village, which offers other social services to Hays County residents.
