Rachel Koay

Feeding Texas

Rachel oversees the impact of programs and strategies that tackle hunger on four fronts – racial equity, social services, community health and nutrition, and special projects through the AmeriCorps VISTA Community Capacity Corp. As a public health dietitian, she is passionate about making health easier for all by addressing the root causes of hunger and illness. Her expertise comes from working with community organizations to improve health among refugees, people experiencing hunger, and children from underinvested communities. Rachel earned her MPH from the University of Texas School of Public Health with a focus on program design, implementation, and evaluation and completed her dietetic internship at the Maricopa County Department of Public Health.

 

Recent Posts

Feeding Texas Network Backs Major Hunger-Fighting Wins During 2023 Legislative Session

June 26th, 2023

  For Immediate Release: 06/20/2023Contact: Wesley Storywstory@feedingtexas.org Feeding Texas Network Backs Major Hunger-Fighting Wins During 2023 Legislative Session New laws will improve SNAP access and increase funding for emergency food distribution. TEXAS – With the support of the Feeding Texas network of food banks and anti-hunger champions across the state, the Texas Legislature passed several

Medicaid and SNAP Enrollment / Renewal Events Across Texas 

May 11th, 2023

Feeding Texas is partnering with Texas Health and Human Services’ Community Partner Program and local food banks to host SNAP and Medicaid renewal events across the state over the next few months. See below for the locations and dates of these events. This effort is to aid in the unwinding of the public health emergency

Feeding Texas Announces Farm Bill Priorities for 2023 Reauthorization

May 3rd, 2023

  For Immediate Release: 05/03/2023Contact: Wesley Storywstory@feedingtexas.org Feeding Texas Announces Farm Bill Priorities for 2023 Reauthorization Congress has an opportunity to strengthen our nation’s commitment to hunger relief. TEXAS – As federal lawmakers debate the future of the Farm Bill, the Feeding Texas network calls on our elected officials to reauthorize a bipartisan Farm Bill

Three Ways Congress Should Fight Hunger in the Farm Bill

April 27th, 2023

Every five years, Congress gets an opportunity to strengthen our nation’s commitment to hunger relief via the Farm Bill. This rare moment in the legislative calendar guarantees a review of federal nutrition strategies like SNAP and food banks, which serve as the backbone of hunger relief in America. Here in Texas, we know we can

Texas Food Banks Ask Legislators to Implement Pre-Release SNAP Registration

April 5th, 2023

  For Immediate Release: 04/05/2023Contact: Wesley Storywstory@feedingtexas.org Texas Food Banks Ask Legislators to Implement Pre-Release SNAP Registration This simple policy change would fight hunger and reduce recidivism for formerly incarcerated Texans. TEXAS – The Feeding Texas network, made up of 21 food banks across the state, is calling on state legislators to support hungry Texans

Texas Food Banks Urge Legislators to Fight College Hunger, Improve Graduation Rates

March 22nd, 2023

  For Immediate Release: 03/22/2023Contact: Wesley Storywstory@feedingtexas.org Texas Food Banks Urge Legislators to Fight College Hunger, Improve Graduation Rates 38% of students at two-year colleges experience hunger. TEXAS – The Feeding Texas network, made up of 21 food banks across the state, is calling on state legislators to address hunger on college campuses today in

Texas Food Banks Call for Lawmakers to Update the SNAP Vehicle Asset Test

March 8th, 2023

  For Immediate Release: 03/08/2023Contact: Wesley Storywstory@feedingtexas.org Texas Food Banks Call for Lawmakers to Update the SNAP Vehicle Asset Test More than 54,000 Texas households were denied SNAP due to the Vehicle Asset Test in 2022. TEXAS – The Feeding Texas network, made up of 21 food banks across the state, is calling on state

Texas Food Banks Urge Legislators to Increase Funding for Surplus Ag Grant

February 15th, 2023

  For Immediate Release: 02/15/2023Contact: Wesley Storywstory@feedingtexas.org Texas Food Banks Urge Legislators to Increase Funding for Surplus Ag Grant Investments in produce rescue will help food banks meet growing need. TEXAS – The Feeding Texas network, made up of 21 food banks across the state, is calling on state lawmakers to increase funding for the

Bipartisan Bill Allows Incarcerated Texans to Apply for SNAP Before Release

February 8th, 2023

  For Immediate Release: 02/08/2023Contact: Wesley Storywstory@feedingtexas.org Bipartisan Bill Allows Incarcerated Texans to Apply for SNAP Before Release This simple policy change would reduce recidivism for Texans leaving the criminal justice system. TEXAS – Feeding Texas is excited to announce bill authors for key legislation focused on supporting formerly incarcerated Texans as they reenter society.

College SNAP Bill Would Help Low-Income Students Graduate

January 26th, 2023

  For Immediate Release: 01/26/2023Contact: Wesley Storywstory@feedingtexas.org College SNAP Bill Would Help Low-Income Students Graduate Short-term food assistance can improve long-term economic outcomes for students. TEXAS – Feeding Texas is excited to announce bill sponsors for key legislation that would fight hunger on college campuses. Sen. Royce West (D-Dallas) and Rep. Armando Walle (D-Houston) have

Bipartisan Bill Would Modernize the SNAP Vehicle Asset Test

January 17th, 2023

  For Immediate Release: 01/17/2023Contact: Wesley Storywstory@feedingtexas.org Bipartisan Bill Would Modernize the SNAP Vehicle Asset Test Car values have increased due to inflation, forcing hungry families off SNAP. TEXAS – With the 88th Texas legislative session underway, Feeding Texas is excited to announce bill sponsors for key legislation focused on the SNAP Vehicle Asset Test.

Our 2023 Gameplan: Fighting Hunger in a Divided Congress

December 21st, 2022

We can’t food bank our way out of hunger, which is why Feeding Texas advocates for public policies that help low-income Texans access affordable and nutritious food. Much of our nation’s policy response to hunger is decided at the federal level, by Congress and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Although the next Congress will

Food Banks Cheer Inclusion of Child Nutrition Investments in Omnibus Budget Bill

December 20th, 2022

  For Immediate Release: 12/20/2022Contact: Wesley Storywstory@feedingtexas.org Food Banks Cheer Inclusion of Child Nutrition Investments in Omnibus Budget Bill Proposed funding would create a national summer EBT program. TEXAS – Feeding Texas, the state association of food banks, joins other advocacy groups to praise the inclusion of child nutrition investments in the year-end omnibus budget

Lawmakers must prioritize hunger solutions in upcoming session  

November 28th, 2022

This article was originally published on Beaumontenterprise.com on Nov. 18, 2022.Photo made Monday, December 20, 2021 Kim Brent/The Enterprise Written by: Celia Cole, CEO of Feeding Texas, and Harvey Zernial President and CEO of Southeast Texas Food Bank Finding common ground may be hard these days, but we can all agree that our grocery bills are higher

Feeding Texas Announces 2023 State Legislative Priorities

November 16th, 2022

For Immediate Release: 11/16/2022Contact: Wesley Story, 972.999.5225or wstory@feedingtexas.org Feeding Texas Announces 2023 State Legislative Priorities Texas lawmakers can help fight hunger in the 88th legislative session. TEXAS – Bill filing begins this week for the 88th Texas Legislature. As state lawmakers begin introducing legislation, Feeding Texas calls on our elected officials to push for policy

Texas Lawmakers Can Help Fight Hunger in the 2023 Legislative Session

November 16th, 2022

Texans and food banks alike are facing tough times. Inflation is combining with supply chain squeezes to reduce the purchasing power of food banks and people facing hunger. As a result, food banks are experiencing a surge in the number of Texans seeking emergency food assistance. Food banks are responding as best they can to

Hunger Hits Kids and Texans of Color Even Harder

July 20th, 2022

About 1 in 5 Texas children – and 1 in 8 Texans overall – faced the threat of hunger in 2020, according to the newest data in Feeding America’s annual Map the Meal Gap report. When the data is broken down by race and ethnicity, the numbers are even more stark. That year, 1 in

Texas Legislature Invests $95M for Food Bank Capacity Building

April 1st, 2022

For Immediate Release: April 1, 2022 Contact: Celia Cole, 512-590-0659, ccole@feedingtexas.org This statement is attributable in whole or in part to Celia Cole, CEO of Feeding Texas, regarding the Texas Department of Agriculture’s announcement of $95M in capacity-building funds for food banks: “Food banks are an important layer of protection against hunger every day, and

Your Impact on Winter Storm Uri Relief

February 24th, 2022

Thanks to generous support from our donors and partners, Feeding Texas and the statewide network of food banks were able to feed hundreds of thousands of Texans during Winter Storm Uri. Over 56 MILLION MEALS were distributed in response to the winter storm via the Feeding Texas network! That’s a 25% increase during the weeks following the storm. Impact

1 in 8 Texas Households Struggled to Eat While Pandemic Raged

September 8th, 2021

One in eight Texas households struggled to avoid hunger between 2018 and 2020, according to a U.S. Department of Agriculture report released today. An average thirteen percent of Texas households experienced ‘food insecurity’ in that time period, meaning they faced hunger or engaged in coping mechanisms to avoid it. Data analyzed by Northwestern University during

Why Voter Access is Important to Texas Food Banks

July 15th, 2021

Feeding Texas respectfully urges the Texas House to protect legal and fair access to the ballot box for Texans by opposing the passage of HB3.   According to a 2020 analysis of voting records, eligible voters with incomes less than twice the federal poverty line routinely vote at a much lower rate than their higher-income peers.

New Law Simplifies Access To SNAP For Vulnerable Texas Populations, Aims To Reduce Senior Hunger

June 17th, 2021

SB 224 simplifies the SNAP certification and recertification requirements for households comprised of senior citizens or individuals with disabilities SB 224, authored by Texas State Senator Charles Perry and sponsored by Rep. Armando Walle, became law yesterday after being signed by Governor Greg Abbott. The legislation creates a simplified certification and recertification process for Supplemental

University of Texas Student E-Cookbook Promotes Sustainable Food Sourcing and Raises Funds for Feeding Texas

June 17th, 2021

A team of 17 students from The University of Texas at Austin created a donation-based e-cookbook titled “A Taste of Austin Through the Lens of Sustainability” that showcases local restaurants and businesses focused on sustainability. The students make up this year’s Coordinated Program in Dietetics (CPD), a three-semester pre-professional program in nutritional sciences where those

Texans Running Out of Food as Weather Crisis Disrupts Supply Chain

February 18th, 2021

Texans running low on food are finding empty grocery store shelves. Food pantries are running out of supplies. And the freeze has wiped out substantial portions of the state’s citrus and vegetable crops. This story was originally published in The Texas Tribune.Photo Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune The state’s week of weather hell started

Biden Administration Serious About Reducing Pandemic-Fueled Hunger

January 25th, 2021

The Biden Administration recently announced three executive actions that could significantly curb rising hunger in Texas, especially among children. Under these new orders: USDA will increase the value of the P-EBT program, which provides additional food-purchasing power to families whose children are missing free or reduced-price school meals while they are learning virtually at home. The administration

Call to Action: We Cannot Walk Alone

January 18th, 2021

In his iconic speech at the 1963 March on Washington, Martin Luther King urged solidarity and perseverance in the fight for equality: “We cannot walk alone. And as we walk, we must make the pledge that we shall march ahead. We cannot turn back.” Despite the inspiration in his words, we can’t forget that King

Bipartisan Legislation Proposes to Feed More Texas Seniors

December 10th, 2020

Bipartisan legislation filed in advance of the 87th Texas Legislature would streamline access to nutrition assistance for Texas seniors and people with disabilities, according to advocates. The companion bills, filed in the House by Representative Armando Walle (D-Houston) and in the Senate by Senators Charles Perry (R-Lubbock) and Royce West (D-Dallas), would direct the Texas

Statement on Bipartisan, Congressional COVID Relief Negotiations

December 4th, 2020

The following statement is attributable in whole or part to Celia Cole, CEO of Feeding Texas: “We are heartened to hear that Congress is back at the negotiation table to pass a COVID relief bill by the end of the year. Many Texas families are near the end of their rope. Unemployment benefits are expiring,

COVID-19 Impact Report: Over 400M Pounds of Food Distributed

November 17th, 2020

Thanks to the generous support of donors and partners, Feeding Texas and the statewide network of food banks were able to feed hundreds of thousands of Texans since the start of the COVID-19 economic downturn and make a commitment to be there for the long term with increased levels of support. Over 400 million pounds of

Feeding Texas Statement on Election Results

November 11th, 2020

Attributable to Celia Cole, CEO of Feeding Texas: Feeding Texas congratulates the projected winners of last Tuesday’s election across our state and nation.  We celebrate the conclusion of an election season challenged by a global pandemic, an atypical voting process, and profound differences of opinion among voters. We celebrate Texas voters, especially the Texans served

State Cuts Food Bank Funding as Need Soars

October 1st, 2020

The Texas Department of Agriculture slashed food bank funding by 44% today, despite record need related to the COVID-19 health crisis. The $1.9 million cut is to the Surplus Agricultural Product Grant, which helps food banks procure fresh produce from local growers. The cuts are aimed at satisfying a directive from the Governor to trim agency budgets

Hunger in Texas Doubles During Pandemic

July 13th, 2020

“This data makes it clear that the new normal of COVID-19 includes a significant increase in hunger…A modest, fifteen percent boost to SNAP while the pandemic continues would begin to counter this increase.” Photograph by Tamir Kalifa New research suggests food insecurity has doubled among Texas families on the four-month anniversary of Texas’ disaster declaration

Feeding Texas Stands in Solidarity With Those Fighting Systemic Racism

June 10th, 2020

Feeding Texas stands in solidarity with the Black community in calling for racial justice and mourning the deaths of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor and the many others before them. We commit to learn from, and act with communities of color and other marginalized people to dismantle the systemic and structural racism that infects

New $1 Billion Program To Help Texas Families with Kids Afford Groceries

May 13th, 2020

Feeding Texas applauded USDA’s approval of a $1 Billion state plan to help some Texas families buy groceries during the health crisis. Households containing children up to 21 years old who received free or low-cost lunch at school this year will be eligible for the new Pandemic EBT (P-EBT) program.   Families will receive a one-time benefit of

$3 Billion Coronavirus Relief Program to Aid Food Banks and Food Distributors

April 27th, 2020

USDA announced the details of a new, $3 Billion Coronavirus relief program for growers, producers, and families facing the economic effects of COVID-19. The Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP) will deliver boxes of dairy, produce and meat through an open solicitation to local and regional food distributors, who must partner with food banks or other

Food Banks Urge Congress to Strengthen SNAP as Lines for Food Grow Longer

April 22nd, 2020

Food banks and nutrition advocates urged Congress to adopt proposals strengthening SNAP this week as the need for food assistance continued to rise across the state.   “Our food banks are being overwhelmed,” said Celia Cole, CEO of Feeding Texas. “We need to deploy every tool in our toolkit to address this crisis.”   Proposals to

Texas Food Banks Low on Supplies, Volunteers During Coronavirus Pandemic

April 8th, 2020

Demand for assistance from food banks is off the charts. But volunteers are staying at home, and grocery stores, which typically are key donors to pantries, are seeing their shelves depleted. This story was originally published in The Texas Tribune. Across the state, demand for assistance from food banks is off the charts as thousands

COVID-19: Food Banks Prepare for Economic Impacts of Virus

March 12th, 2020

Feeding Texas, the statewide network of food banks, announced plans this week to address the potential for increased hunger resulting from the COVID-19 coronavirus. As the economic impacts of the virus begin to mount, we expect to see a rise in demand at food banks. Low-wage workers, who often live without health coverage and/or paid

Changes to SNAP Take a Toll on Texas’ Most Vulnerable

February 17th, 2020

Three recent proposals to change SNAP, the federal nutrition program — one of which was formally adopted in December — will worsen food insecurity in Texas and across the nation for the poorest among us. The Trump administration’s proposed changes would cut almost 4 million people from the program, while also reducing benefits for another

Proposed Cuts to SNAP Would ‘Take Food Away From Millions’

February 10th, 2020

Today the White House unveiled a budget proposal that would slash spending on the needs of low-income Americans. The cuts include a $182 Billion reduction to SNAP, the nation’s largest nutrition assistance program. While unlikely to become law this year, this proposal signals the president’s priorities for the coming decade. Celia Cole, CEO of Feeding

Meeting Specific Dietary Needs

November 14th, 2019

At Feeding Texas, we aim to support the nutritional needs of every Texan whose circumstances prevent them from accessing enough food for a healthy life. This goal is particularly relevant for households with specific dietary needs; for example, those living with diabetes. November is National Diabetes Awareness Month. Nutritional management is critical for individuals living

Celebrating Vegetarian Month

October 30th, 2019

October is the month of ghosts, pumpkins and eating way too much candy. Surprisingly, it is also National Vegetarian Month—a time to celebrate eating vegetables! A vegetarian is “a person who does not eat meat or fish and sometimes other animal products, especially for moral, religious, or health reasons” (WHRO 2015). There are also pescatarians,

Judges Block ‘Public Charge’ Rule That Targets Immigrant Use of Health and Nutrition Services

October 15th, 2019

Feeding Texas policy analyst Jamie Olson explains how the ‘public charge’ ruling affects low-income immigrant families. This story was originally published in the Dallas Observer. Immigration advocates across Texas are breathing a sigh of relief after a new rule targeting low-income immigrants was blocked in federal court. Three federal judges have issued nationwide preliminary injunctions