According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), being food secure means having “access at all times to enough food for an active, healthy life”. Based on the most recent data provided by their Economic Research Service from 2021: 90% of people in the U.S. were classified as food secure,
which means the remaining 10% of them (33 million people) present some degree of food insecurity. In Texas, over 13% of residents (nearly 4 million people) experience food insecurity. There are four levels to food security within a household:
- High food security: no reported indications of food-access problems or limitations.
- Marginal food security: one or two reported indications—typically of anxiety over food sufficiency or shortage of food in the house. Little or no indication of changes in diets or food intake.
- Low food security: reports of reduced quality, variety, or desirability of diet. Little or no indication of reduced food intake.
- Very low food security: reports of multiple indications of disrupted eating patterns and reduced food intake.
At HCCM, as much as food availability has increased with the additional donations from our retail partner stores of frozen meats, produce, pizzas, dairy products, and deli items, the need in our community continues to grow. With the rise in food, energy, and fuel costs, our client base has increased by nearly half, while the food supply has not kept up with the demand, particularly for non-perishable items. Due to our historic partnership with the Central Texas Food Bank (CTFB), HCCM has
been able to keep distributing steady amounts of fresh produce to clients and the public in addition to retail donations. Over the past couple of years, the CTFB has made a greater selection of produce available to its agencies, helping support the Pantry, the Community Cupboard, and Fresh Food For All, all at ZERO cost to us! Now, even though fruits and veggies are so important for our overall health, they are not enough to meet all our dietary needs. To provide food security, a balanced diet of grains, meat, dairy, fruits, and vegetables is essential. As we experience increased demand for dry and canned goods, an updated list of the most needed items can be found on our web page at: https://hccm.org/admin/uploads/file/pantry-shopping-list-for-website-no-date.pdf. We greatly appreciate your support in any shape or form, whether through food drives, donations, volunteering, or simply by spreading the word. Thank you all!
