Donations are declining at food pantries in two Austin suburbs. As more families seek help meeting basic needs, the nonprofits face growing pressure.
Here's what to know
Circle of Hope and Hutto Resource Center provide residents in Pflugerville and Hutto with food and other essentials, according to Community Impact.
Tina Lee, founder and executive director of Circle of Hope Community Center, says the squeeze on household budgets is why more families cannot afford enough food. Lee cited inflation and the rising cost of living.
"Sometimes families are doing their very best or doing everything right, but their incomes simply aren't keeping up with the cost of living. Food insecurity has always been an issue, but with the economy, gas prices, things like that, it's become more of an issue," Lee said.
More background
Collection, storage, transportation, and delivery all require money at Circle of Hope, Lee explained — even when the food itself is donated.
Circle of Hope has also lost donors, as financial strain takes a toll on its regular supporters.
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"A lot of the folks that have donated to us regularly, they've been impacted and so they've scaled back a lot," Lee said, according to Community Impact.
Sandy Brockwell, Hutto Resource Center's executive director, said the number of people receiving help there has reached an all-time high.
What's being done?
Circle of Hope works with local businesses, volunteers, and the Central Texas Food Bank to support its drive-thru and mobile distributions. Its drive-thru pantry operates from 8-11 a.m. on Mondays and Fridays.
Hutto Resource Center holds a Wednesday pop-up distribution between 2 and 3:30 p.m., with fresh and frozen food supplied through Central Texas Food Bank retail partners.
The center also holds drive-thru distributions on the first and third Saturdays of each month, from 9 a.m. to noon. When available, household and hygiene supplies supplement the nonperishable foods, meat, and fresh produce provided at these events.
Requests for diapers, other baby items, and feminine hygiene supplies can also be filled, depending on stock.
"We're just trying to figure out how to keep up with the demand and make sure that we are serving everybody that needs to be served," Brockwell said, according to Community Impact.
Where can I learn more?
Food banks across Texas are also facing growing demand as families struggle to afford groceries.
• Texas food banks cannot replace SNAP as federal rules shift costs to the state.
• Grayson College's mobile pantry distributes 15,000 pounds monthly as families struggle with grocery bills.
• Texas food stamp enrollment hit a 17-year low even as food banks faced surging demand.
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