Food insecurity in the Brazos Valley heightens during the summer months

BRYAN-COLLEGE STATION, Texas (KBTX) – The Brazos Valley Food Bank (BVFB) knows that summer months mean a deeper need for food for Brazos Valley residents.

“It’s not necessarily a new need that’s presenting itself, but a family needing more food assistance than they’ve needed during the school year because during the summer there’s a higher need for resources like utility costs, and less resources available to a family,” the Brazos Valley Food Bank Programs Director Shannon Avila stated.

According to Feeding America, one in five Texas children experiences hunger.

“If you think about it, that’s five meals for a student a week, just factoring in lunches that they’re not able to access at the school any longer because they’re not going to school any longer. That could also mean breakfast for that student as well, so that would be 10 meals per child per week,” Avila explained.

That’s why BVFB offers different programs like the Backpack Program throughout the summer. During the 2023-2024 school year, BVFB served 2,039 children with 53,395 backpacks at 41 partner schools across six different counties, according to their website.

“In Brazos County, we work with the juvenile department to help get summer backpacks out to families who might not have access to other resources. In Washington County, that can look like a summer camp that’s put on through local partnerships. In Brenham, in Grimes County, Navasota, that looks like a church that helps to get food out to kiddos in the community,” Avila mentioned.

The food banks and pantries, like The Bridge Ministries, are ready and willing to help as much as they can.

“We’re here every Thursday from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. We’re able to currently feed about 150 families a week. We’ve been blessed to where that number can grow substantially,” said The Bridge Ministries Executive Director Colby Street.

For a full list of BVFB programs, check out the BVFB website or Square Meals for a comprehensive list around Texas. Here is a list of some of the locations hosting food drives throughout the summer.

BRAZOS: College Hills, Creek View, Forest Ridge, Greens Prairie, Pebble Creek

BURLESON: Caldwell, Snook, Somerville Elementary

GRIMES: Brule, High Point, Webb Elementary, Iola,

MADISON: Madisonville Elementary, North Zulch Elementary, Madisonville Intermediate

ROBERTSON: Hearne, Bremond, Calvert Elementary

Bryan ISD’s food program starts back on June 2.

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