Brazos Valley Unites to Combat Hunger in Food Drive

News Summary

The KBTX Food for Families Food Drive in Brazos Valley has successfully raised over $200,000 and collected 125,000 pounds of food to combat food insecurity in the region. With rising grocery prices and a concerning increase in food-insecure households, community support is vital. The donations will serve multiple local pantries for the year, demonstrating the power of collective effort in making a significant impact on families in need.

Brazos Valley Unites to Tackle Hunger with the KBTX Food for Families Food Drive

In the heart of Brazos Valley, something wonderful has taken place! The annual KBTX Food for Families Food Drive, now in its 29th year, has once again captured the spirit of generosity. This time around, it raised over $200,000 and collected a massive 125,000 pounds of food—enough to make a significant dent in the ever-growing issue of food insecurity in the area.

An Alarming Reality

As many as one in every eight households in Texas grapples with food insecurity, and alarmingly, this number is slightly elevated in the Brazos Valley. With recent studies showing that this region has seen a staggering 72% increase in food-insecure households from 2019 to earlier this year, the need for action is clear. Currently, an average of one in six people in the Brazos Valley faces the risk of hunger, highlighting the urgent necessity for community support.

The Power of Community

This year’s donations during the food drive will help thousands of residents who rely on the services provided by the local food bank. The organization rejoiced in the fact that they witnessed many new donors stepping up to the plate this year. After the food drive wrapped up, dedicated volunteers rolled up their sleeves to sort the donations of food, drinks, and toiletry items. It takes a village, and the Brazos Valley certainly proved it has a strong sense of togetherness and compassion.

All Hands on Deck

The collected donations will be instrumental in stocking not just one, but three local pantries located in Burleson County for the entire year. That’s a whole year’s worth of food for families in need, showing just how impactful a community-driven initiative can be. The food bank typically distributes an impressive 5.5 million pounds of food each year, spreading hope and nourishment to families facing hard times.

Stepping Up to the Plate

This year, rising grocery prices have made it more difficult for many families to access basic necessities, making community donations even more critical, especially during the holiday season. The KBTX Food for Families Food Drive also serves as an outreach to help local organizations address the reported 80% increase in the number of individuals they serve over the last two and a half years.

Programs Making a Difference

Thanks to contributions from compassionate individuals, a variety of programs run by the food bank continue to flourish. These include:

Children’s Backpack Program: Providing bags of food for children over weekends and holidays.
Senior Outreach Program: Delivering food to older adults who may struggle to get to pantries.
Mobile Food Pantries: Bringing food to rural communities that may lack access to essential resources.
Together We Grow: Educating families about healthy cooking and nutrition.
School-Based Food Pantries: Ensuring students and their families have enough to eat.
Project Gotem: Helping families who may not be able to access traditional pantries.
Screen & Intervene Program: Providing medically tailored food for patients living with chronic illnesses.

A Community Effort

During the food drive, which operates from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m., community members can donate items at several drop-off locations including:

Brazos Center in Bryan
Son-Shine Outreach Center in Madisonville
Pridgeon Community Center in Franklin
Hearne Railroad Museum Depot in Hearne
St. Mary’s, Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church Hall in Caldwell
MidSouth Electric Co-op Operations Facility in Navasota
Washington County Expo in Brenham

With the incredible success of this year’s food drive, the Brazos Valley community has once again shown that when we come together, we can make a significant impact in changing lives. Every donation counts and goes a long way in ensuring that families in our area have the food and support they need.