As food prices continue to rise across the Rio Grande Valley, several non-profit organizations have scheduled food distribution events into November.
United Way of Southern Cameron County, in collaboration with the Food Bank of the Rio Grande Valley and the Brownsville Wellness Coalition, held a food distribution Friday in Brownsville. Further drives are scheduled provide those in need with bags of groceries.
The organizations held the food distribution events during the COVID-19 pandemic. They started the distribution events again April 8, as a response to food insecurity brought on by inflation.
“The partners reassess the situation every three months, and we recently agreed to another three months of distribution,” Traci Wickett, president, and CEO of UWSCC, said in an email.
Food distributions will take place on the following dates and locations:
>>Sept. 9 – Southmost Branch Library, 4320 Southmost Blvd.
>>Sept. 23 -Brownsville Event Center, 1 Event Drive.
>>Oct. 7 – Southmost Branch Library, 4320 Southmost Blvd.
>>Oct. 21- Brownsville Event Center, 1 Event Drive.
>>Nov. 4 – location to be announced or rescheduled.
>>Oct. 18 – Brownsville Event Center, 1 Event Drive.
Wickett said the non-profit organizations help 1,000 families at each food distribution event.
A survey by Feeding America, found that a majority of members in food banks experienced an increase in demand for emergency food assistance in June, comparted to the month before. The survey conducted in July with 172 out of 200 food banks responding reported seeing increased or steady demand for services amid record food price increases.
