The memory of a 6-year-old boy clutching a box of cereal as if it was a teddy bear came to mind for Libby A. Vaughan on Thursday. The image, an affectionate yet painful recollection, illustrates the region’s needs as desperation pervades.
On Thursday, Vaughan, CEO of Food Bank RGV, discussed the needs that currently exist in the Rio Grande Valley, where inflation has particularly hit the impoverished, and food insecurity has soared as a result.
The food bank kicked off its donation campaign called “Help Kids Get Through The Summer,” which encourages residents to donate and help provide children across the Valley with food this summer.
According to Vaughan, the “need is always here.” However, the food bank is seeing an increase in families as food becomes more expensive.
Just how many? The nonprofit organization that serves the Valley’s food needs saw the number of families seeking their help climb from 64,000 to 142,000 during the COVID-19 pandemic. Vaughan said those numbers dropped as the pandemic waned. Inflation, however, has brought the need back to pandemic-era numbers.
“Almost more than 100% raised in the amount of individuals that need help,” Vaughan explained. “Not only is it summer, but now we have the high prices of food in our stores and the fuel economy that’s going through the roof that is affecting everybody.”
During the past two months, the food bank has experienced a 20% increase in the number of individuals who need help.
Now the food bank is seeing numbers increase from 76,000 people to as many as 91,000 needing the food bank’s help.
Rising food and fuel costs also have an adverse impact on the organization’s operations.
For instance, the food bank’s budget for fuel has increased 30% over the last two months while the budget for food has seen an increase of 14%.
“We have more money going out than we have coming into the food bank in order to feed the need that we have here,” Vaughan said. “If the food cost and the fuel continue going up our clients’ needs are going to continue going up.”
Although the food bank receives supplies from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, those items make up about 49% of the food available at the bank. However, in the past two years they have seen recurring cancellations in food deliveries due to the pandemic.
One of the nonprofit’s goals is to provide families with the four main food groups, protein, fruits, vegetables and grains. However, in recent years they find themselves lacking certain supplies and have taken it upon themselves to buy those items for families.
“They deserve a variety of products, not just beans and rice. We want to make sure that we are giving people something that they can be able to make a meal with,” Vaughan said.
The food bank now looks to its community to provide the necessary funds or supplies that will help feed families in need. According to a news release, an anonymous donor will match any donation the food bank receives, and is willing to match up to $10,000.
“Money is the biggest thing that we need right now because it helps us purchase food,” Vaughan said. “Think about what your kids would like to eat at home — that is what our kids that (we’re serving) need too.”
To donate to the food bank, visit foodbankrgv.com or by texting “SummerMatch” to 44-321, or in person at 724 N. Cage Blvd. in Pharr.
