Last year, 1 out of every 6 people in the United States looked to food banks and food pantries for support, according to a 2023 report from Feeding America. The end of COVID-era government assistance programs and the rising cost of groceries due to inflation have many Americans facing food insecurity.
According to a 2023 Department of Agriculture report, 12.8% of households around the country—about 17 million—were food insecure in 2022. That's up from the 10.2% of households who had difficulty providing food for everyone in their home in 2021, and also up from the 10.5% who said the same in 2020. It's the highest share of food-insecure households in the U.S. since 2014.
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The rise of food insecurity and the economic situation in the U.S. means that food banks are struggling to keep up with the demand. "Local food banks, pantries, and community meal programs have become an essential component of many households' food budgets, especially as we continue to face increased food prices and the end of pandemic-era benefits," Claire Babineaux-Fontenot, CEO of Feeding America, said in a statement accompanying the nonprofit's aforementioned report. In an earlier 2023 survey from Feeding America, 65% of responding food banks reported an increase in the number of people they served.
It can be difficult to know where to go if you want to help, as many do during the holiday season in particular. To help guide you, Stacker compiled a list of food bank volunteer opportunities near Houston using data from VolunteerMatch. Read on to see what you can do for those grappling with food insecurity in your community, from distributing lunches to seniors to serving meals at soup kitchens.
Main Street Ministries Community Garden Volunteers Sunday Afternoons - Organization: MAIN STREET MINISTRIES HOUSTON - Read more on website
Regional Director-Houston TX - Organization: CitiIMPACT - Read more on website
Public Relations Volunteer - Organization: MAGNIFICAT HOUSES INC - Read more on website
Spread love, joy, and frosting in Houston as a volunteer baker! - Organization: FOR GOODNESS CAKES - Read more on website
Seeking Volunteers for NRG Stadium in Houston, TX for the 2023-2024 Season - Organization: Idealist.org - Read more on website
Garden Volunteers Needed - Organization: Target Hunger - Read more on website
Student Opportunity--Help Fight Hunger Around America's Breakfast Tables - Organization: CEREAL4ALL INC - Read more on website
Cook a Meal for a Neighbor in Need in Pasadena, TX - Organization: Lasagna Love - Read more on website
Writer / Journalist Internship - Organization: The Borgen Project - Read more on website
Food Donation Driver: From Grocery Store to Food Pantry - Organization: Cy-Fair Helping Hands - Read more on website
Food distribution for Families in Need - Organization: CORNERSTONE FAMILY RESOURCE CENTER - Date: Dec 23 - Read more on website
Prayer Team Warrior - Organization: SoupMobile - Read more on website
This story features data reporting by Karim Noorani, writing by Jaimie Etkin, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 101 metros.
