For many families across the U.S., the cost of a routine grocery trip has become crushing. And residents of Texoma — the region covering parts of Texas and Oklahoma — are no exception.
In Denison, Texas, a college-run pantry is trying to relieve some of the pressure by providing thousands of pounds of food each month.
Here's what to know
A collaboration between Grayson College and the North Texas Food Bank, the Grayson Cares food giveaway operates once a month from the school's campus.
There, residents drive up to receive donated food. It's an effort to help mitigate the pressure of the nationwide affordability crisis and related food insecurity.
According to local outlet KXII, more than 200 families across Texoma receive 11,000 to 15,000 pounds of food at each distribution.
For recipients, the relief is much needed.
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"We're struggling because prices, the rent went up, everything, gas — oh, my gosh," resident and recipient Eldon McKay told KXII. McKay also shared that he is the caregiver for his wife as she faces a terminal illness.
Sarah Meyers shared a stark example from her own household.
"Even my grocery bill from Kroger was over $500 recently, and I just have four people in my house, and so, yeah, the prices are pretty surprising," Meyers said.
According to new analysis from the Georgetown Center on Poverty and Inequality, 30% of Texans and 39% of Oklahomans are "burdened by food costs."
More background
In Denison, the distribution takes place on the fourth Wednesday of every month. For Corey Leird, Grayson College's director of counseling and social services, the program comes with benefits for the college and the community.
"Serving the community, it's always a warm welcome," Leird told KXII. "They're so thankful and grateful for what we do for them, and we're so blessed to be able to do it for them."
Sometimes, recipients pay it forward themselves by redistributing food donations to those who can't attend the drive-up food pantry.
"I try to hit it every month," Meyers told KXII. "I also deliver food to some friends who are disabled and elderly, and then some people in my neighborhood, so it's nice. It's nice to have some extra pantry supplies just to feel a little bit more secure."
Where can I learn more?
Across the country, similar programs are helping families get food while cutting down on waste:
• In Wisconsin, a pantry helped to close the loop with gardens, grocers, and farms.
• In Arkansas, a food bank served over 60,000 meals after storms knocked out power.
• Food banks provided 1.7 billion meals in 2023 while rescuing food from landfills.
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