CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — The problem of food insecurity is a concern across the nation and here at home.
Folks with the Coastal Bend Food Bank said they're seeing a growing number of people who are needing an extra boost to get food on the table for their families.
People who have never needed their assistance before are now coming to the food bank for help.
Executive Director Bea Hanson said while folks are often embarrassed to ask for that help, this is exactly why the nonprofit is here in our community.
It's a need you can see firsthand at the Food Bank's new location where there are canned and dried goods stacked sky high.
The organization works with 104 agencies across the Coastal Bend.
"The need has increased without a doubt, because we have seen a surge of people calling and people coming to get food," Hanson said.
The food doesn't sit on the shelves very long.
It's a revolving door, coming in, sorted, boxed and then going out to those who need it the most.
In the last four months the food bank has been at their new and bigger location, it's never been busier.
"Our move has been very timely, because we have, I can feel it, just ordering food, when we have to purchase food the prices of food are skyrocketing," Hanson said.
She believes it's the inflation at the grocery stores that's part of the issue and even with the help of numerous grants and donations the nonprofit is having to hustle to keep up with the demand.
"We pick up food everyday from the grocery stores but we are having to buy food just to fill in the gaps and that is new," Hanson said.
The Coastal Bend Food Bank provides 13 million pounds a year to those in need throughout an 11 county area.
The nonprofit is hosting food drives there on site.
Monday will be the first of two for the month of May.
Hanson expects they'll see about 300 families, a number that could grow this summer.
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"Now the kids are going to be out of school they are going to have to serve them three meals a day, going to cost a lot more and not everyone is going to be able to take care of their children," she said.
Food insecurity is also an issue that the civil rights organization UnidosUS, has seen growth among Latino families.
"Just to put into context what's happened, Texas has the highest rate of people who don't have access to nutritious food regularly, particularly in Nueces, San Patricio, Jim Wells, nearly one-in-every-four child does not have access to food and that puts a huge burden on our local food banks," Texas director Eric Holguin said.
Holguin told 3NEWS a backlog of folks waiting to get approved for SNAP benefits is adding to the increased need.
"39 percent of their applications have not been processed, you have a large group of people who are waiting for their snap benefits to be approved and while they are waiting they're having to go to food banks to rely on getting food on the table," he said.
Meantime, Hanson is especially concerned for area elderly.
"Because they live on fixed incomes, they are not catching up with inflation," she said.
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
In order to better fill that need, the food bank is also looking for some volunteers to help at the upcoming food drive.
If you are someone who can spare a few hours they ay that your help is an invaluable way to insure that our community has nutritious food for those in need.
Two distributions are taking place, one on Monday and another on Thursday at their new food bank facility on Bear Lane off of NPID.
To volunteer your time to help give them a call at (361) 887-6291.
SOCIAL SERVICES RESOURCE ASSISTANCE
You might not know this, but the Coastal Bend Food Bank also offers assistance navigating a long list of social service programs like SNAP, Medicaid, Medicare, CHIP and more.
In fact, officials with the food bank told 3NEWS that many people are surprised when they hear the organization is there for guidance at no cost to you or your family.
One group in particular utilizing their services is our elderly community, many of whom don't have access to resources needed to apply to these programs. That's where the food bank steps in to help.
They say their assistance isn't limited to seniors in our area and they're there for anyone needing a hand.
"A lot of them just need food to feed their families, a lot of them are struggling you know maybe a loss of a job maybe they had a baby, it's different reasons but we try to help everybody," Social Services Lead with the Coastal Bend Food Bank Viviana Flores said.
You can give them a ring or come to their facility on Bear Lane. They're there on hand to guide you through the application process or help renew essential benefits, which is free to do.
