Houston works to feed over 700,000 Houstonians while maintaining 'dietary diversity'

Feeding America reported that children who faced hunger before the COVID-19 faced hardship after the pandemic began.

Now, moves are being made in Houston to address children facing hunger in the community.

“We see kids that are waiting on the curb for our vans to come every day,” Beth Harp, CEO of Kids Meals Inc., said. “They are that hungry.”

Houstonian Janeshia Singleton told Click2Houston she lost her income.

“It hit me hard. Now, you have to figure out what you’re going to do and how you’re going to get food,” Singleton said to Click2Houston.

Houston’s Food Insecurity Board, which was launched by Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner and Houston City Councilman David Pollard, will help more than 700,000 residents grappling with hunger.

“We have people coming from different cultures, customs, backgrounds, everyone eats food differently and everyone has different dietary needs, so we need to think about that as a diverse city,” Councilman Edward Pollard of District J said to Click2Houston. 

The Food Insecurity Board, which was unanimously approved by the Houston City Council, is an amendment to the city’s charter that has been ratified a few times during the last two decades.

“We have the ability to look at all angles. We know our customers, we know the supply chain, we know the produce industry,” Lisa Helfman, senior director of Public Affairs at HEB and board member, said to Click2Houston. 

The board already met for the first time on Dec. 8, with local non-profits saying that its establishment couldn’t have come at a more appropriate time.