“We are doing all possible in this long government shutdown to serve those in need,” noted Angie Osterman, Director of Development and Marketing of the South Texas Food Bank (STFB), which prior to the shutdown served a base of 110,000 clients – largely elderly and single parent households in an eight-county, 14,023 square mile area of largely rural communities.
According to Osterman, the federal government’s halt to November SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) payments and assistance to military and government families has pressured the STFB’s services and inventories in Laredo by 400 percent.
“Last week, we experienced an unprecedented surge in new clients as well as in calls asking for information for assistance. We have weathered shutdowns in the past, but this is the longest in our history. What comes in, goes out quickly.
“Like other food banks, we are still feeling the impact the COVID pandemic had on our supply chains. Many of our suppliers, including farms, downsized or went out of business. Our bulk food costs have risen. Pre-COVID a trailer load of chicken cost $18,000 to $20,000. Today it costs $30,000. The cost of produce, depending on season and type, has also risen significantly. One of our highest costs is fuel and maintenance on vehicles delivering food to locations in Webb, Zapata, Starr, Jim Hogg, Dimmit, Val Verde, and Kinney counties,” Osterman said.
She continued, “We are actively seeking funds and food donations of non-perishable goods that are not in glass or brittle plastic containers. Cooking oil, pasta, peanut butter, canned proteins, baby food, and cereal are in high demand. For those who can donate their time, we need volunteers to inspect incoming shipments of canned goods, sorting, processing, and bagging.”
According to the STFB website, a $1 donation provides up to 10 meals for families in need. Contributions can be made securely online at southtexasfoodbank.org/donate.
Osterman said that the corporate generosity of HEB’s $5 million donation to Feeding Texas and Meals on Wheels will be shared by 20 pantry agencies ($250,000 each), including STFB.
From southtexasfoodbank.org:
For more than 60 years, SNAP has been the nation’s largest and most effective anti-hunger program, feeding millions of Americans and serving as a lifeline for children, seniors, and families facing hardship. Today, that lifeline is interrupted — impacting more than 3.5 million Texans, including thousands of households across Webb, Zapata, Dimmit, Maverick, Val Verde, Jim Hogg, Kinney, and Starr counties served by the STFB.
“This is a moment of real concern for our South Texas communities,” said Alma Boubel, CEO of STFB. “Families who rely on SNAP are already struggling to put food on the table, and the pause in benefits means even more people will turn to us for help. We are committed to meeting that need — but we cannot do it alone. We’re calling on our community to step forward by donating food, time, and funds to help us keep up with the growing demand. And we urge our legislators to reach a resolution swiftly so no Texan goes hungry.”
Feeding Texas CEO Celia Cole added, “Today, for the first time in the program’s proud and proven history, SNAP recipients face a lapse in benefits because of a government shutdown. This is a reality no American should accept, and it should trouble us all to our core. More than 3.5 million Texans rely on SNAP each month to feed their families, and the vast majority of participants are children, seniors, and people with disabilities.”Call 2-1-1 (Option 1) for local food assistance programs, including pantries and meal sites. Texans can still apply for benefits or manage existing cases at YourTexasBenefits.com.
Unused SNAP benefits issued prior to November remain valid.
Anyone impacted by the government shutdown is encouraged to call the South Texas Food Bank at (956) 726-3120 or their nearest food bank partner agency to get more information about how and when they will be receiving assistance. Please call before stopping by. Also, the food bank is in dire need of volunteers. Please visit southtexasfoodbank.org to learn more about emergency food assistance and ways to help.
About the South Texas Food Bank
The South Texas Food Bank is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization whose mission for over 30 years is to alleviate hunger in the eight-county service area in the south Texas area by collecting and distributing food through partner agencies and programs while creating awareness and educating the community on the realities of hunger throughout their eight-county service area.
The South Texas Food Bank is a proud member of Feeding America, Feeding Texas, and the United Way of Laredo.
