As Thanksgiving approaches, Waco-area food banks and pantries are seeking the community’s help in feeding families rocked by this month’s SNAP benefits disruption.
The state of Texas on Friday began releasing full SNAP benefits for those who missed their usual SNAP payments during the first two weeks of the month due to the government shutdown that ended last week. Those who normally get payments after Nov. 14 will receive those payments on the usual schedule.
Some 3.5 million Texans rely on the food stamp program, including some 32,000 McLennan County residents.
Local food ministries saw skyrocketing demand even before the SNAP cutoff this month, and the effects continue.
The Central Texas Food Bank normally spends $1.3 million a month on food. During the cutoff, it spent $1 million per week.
The nonprofit serves 21 counties, supplying food to charities such as Caritas and Shepherd’s Heart in Waco.
“We know this will be a long recovery process,” Central Texas Food Bank Vice President Beth Corbett said Tuesday in an email.
“Unfortunately, we know that need will persist for the foreseeable future as federal employees and SNAP recipients recover from the disruption to their household incomes.
“People dipped into savings, utilized credit cards, and deferred other payments to make ends meet. Central Texas Food Bank will be recovering financially, as well.”
The nonprofit is seeking donations, which until Dec. 31 will be matched 3 to 1 by foundations. That means $1 will buy nine meals. To donate, visit centraltexasfoodbank.org and click Donate Now.
Shepherd’s Heart officials also have seen high demand this month. As of the second week of November it had served 106,629 families, more than the entire 2024 total of 104,682.
Ahead of Thanksgiving, food ministries are preparing food drives and dinners and gathering donations. Here’s how you can help:
- Caritas is always in need of volunteers. For more information, call 254-753-4593.
The charity on Monday gave away Thanksgiving turkeys with the financial help from TXU Energy and Atmos Energy. - Caritas on Friday also is sponsoring the community’s largest annual one-day food drive, Food for Families. The drive runs from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. at KWTX, 6700 American Plaza, and other locations. This year Food for Families organizers aim to collect 425,000 pounds of nonperishable food, up from 352,900 pounds last year.
The drive benefits 10 pantries including Caritas, Shepherd’s Heart, Family of Faith Worship Center and Robinson Food Pantry. To volunteer, sign up here with Scouting America. Monetary donations can be made online here. - Shepherd’s Heart’s website offers opportunities to donate or volunteer.
- A new group called Waco Mutual Aid has been working to organize resources and collect food donations. Organizers are seeking non-perishable food and monetary donations.
- The Family Abuse Center is encouraging people to shop its wish list to help those in the shelter.
- The Salvation Army of Waco holds an annual free feast on Thanksgiving, and though it doesn’t need volunteers for that event, organizers are asking for donations of pies. For more information, contact [email protected] or call 254-756-7271.
- Mission Waco organizes a volunteer-run Thanksgiving lunch for those staying at its shelter and for the community. It takes about 30 volunteers to make the lunch come together. For more information on how to volunteer, visit Mission Waco’s website.
“There is so much need out there, and I tell people, just be generous with their time and their resources and look for ways to volunteer that align with their talents and interests,” said Mission Waco volunteer coordinator Libby Barnhill.
“It takes a lot of hands,” Barnhill said. “And I mean just people willing to come and spend their Thanksgiving eating with maybe a neighbor that they haven’t met before. But just providing that relationship and fellowship is also a gift.”
