As Food Resource Manager, Ross collaborates with Food Banks as well as state and federal partners on a variety of food sourcing programs. He also oversees Feeding Texas’ Crisis Response work and the Hunters for the Hungry Program. Prior to joining Feeding Texas, Ross worked at the Central Texas Food Bank in a variety of roles including inventory control, transportation, and food sourcing. Ross holds a degree in Supply Chain Management from Baylor University.
For Immediate Release: 10/01/24 Contact: Wesley Story wstory@feedingtexas.org BREAKING: USDA Announces $1 Billion in New Investments in Hunger Relief and Support for Local Food Systems The investments come at a critical time for Texans experiencing food insecurity. TEXAS – Today, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced $1 billion in new funding for emergency food
For Immediate Release: 09/30/24 Contact: Wesley Story wstory@feedingtexas.org Feeding Texas Network and 70+ Partner Organizations Prioritize “Food Is Medicine” Solutions for 2025 Legislative Session Food insecurity is intrinsically linked to poor health care outcomes. TEXAS – As Hunger Action Month wraps up, Feeding Texas joins our network of 20 food banks and a coalition of more
For Immediate Release: 09/05/24 Contact: Wesley Story wstory@feedingtexas.org New USDA Report Shows Food Insecurity Increased in Texas and Across the Nation from 2022 to 2023 Food banks cannot end hunger alone – Texans need action from lawmakers. TEXAS – This week, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) released its annual study measuring food security in the
For Immediate Release: 08/28/24 Contact: Wesley Story wstory@feedingtexas.org New Video Shows Impact of USDA Program on Local Producers and Texas Food Banks The LFPA program is strengthening regional food systems across Texas. TEXAS – Feeding Texas is releasing a new video today showcasing the impact of the Local Food Purchase Assistance (LFPA) program, a USDA program
For Planning Purposes: 07/10/2024Contact: Wesley Storywstory@feedingtexas.org ADVISORY: Food Bank of the RGV to Host Groundbreaking Ceremony ***Thursday, July 11 at 10am*** PHARR, TEXAS – On Thursday, July 11 at 10 a.m., the Food Bank of the Rio Grande Valley (FBRGV) will host a groundbreaking ceremony to kick off construction on the food bank’s new Produce
For Immediate Release: 07/01/24Contact: Wesley Story wstory@feedingtexas.org No Cost Summer Meals Available For Kids Across Texas Nearly 1 in 4 Texas kids experience hunger. TEXAS – When schools close for the summer and kids no longer have access to school meals, Texas food banks see hunger spike and increased need in their communities. The good news
For Immediate Release: 05/17/2024Contact: Wesley Story wstory@feedingtexas.org Congress Could Cut Billions in Future SNAP Benefits in Texas New Feeding Texas report shows importance of regular updates to the Thrifty Food Plan. TEXAS – Today, U.S. House Agriculture Committee Chair Glenn “GT” Thompson released his Farm Bill proposal. The proposal would freeze the cost of the Thrifty Food Plan
For Immediate Release: 12/13/23Contact: Wesley Story wstory@feedingtexas.org Over 250 Faith-Based Organizations Join Texas Food Banks in Call for a Strong Farm Bill There is an inextricable connection between faith and food. TEXAS – Today, Feeding Texas sent a letter signed by more than 250 statewide and local faith-based organizations to Texas members of Congress and their
For Immediate Release: 11/17/23Contact: Wesley Story, 972.999.5225 or wstory@feedingtexas.org Feeding Texas CEO Appointed to Serve on New Texas Food System Security and Resiliency Planning Council Celia Cole will represent the Feeding Texas network of food banks. TEXAS – Today, Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller appointed Feeding Texas CEO Celia Cole to represent food banks on the
For Immediate Release: 11/02/23Contact: Wesley Story, 972.999.5225 or wstory@feedingtexas.org New Feeding America Poll Shows Majority of Likely Voters Support Increasing Investment in Farm Bill Nutrition Programs Bipartisan majority support increasing SNAP benefits and 85% support increasing TEFAP funding. TEXAS – A new poll released by Feeding America this week shows a majority of likely voters want
For Immediate Release: 10/27/2023Contact: Wesley Storywstory@feedingtexas.org Feeding Texas Calls for State and Federal Action to Address Massive Increase in Food Insecurity Across Texas and the Nation USDA’s latest report shows nearly 1 in 6 Texas households are food insecure. TEXAS – This week, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) released its annual study measuring
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
This year’s legislative session was Feeding Texas’ most successful since Texas food banks came together as a network over 20 years ago to engage state lawmakers in the fight against hunger. With the support of food banks and anti-hunger champions across the state, the Texas Legislature passed several new laws that will prevent hunger for
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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.
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
Why are extra SNAP payments (Emergency Allotments) ending? Congress and the USDA gave states the option, starting early in the pandemic, to give SNAP households the maximum allotment of benefits for their household size, regardless of their income. Under normal rules, benefits are calculated based on household size, income, and expenses. States had to elect
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.
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
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
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
This article was originally published by USA Today on Nov. 18, 2022. Written by: Marc Ramirez These were supposed to be the relaxing years for Mercedes Bristol, a 68-year-old grandmother in San Antonio. Instead, she’s just picked up one grandchild from school and is on her way to pick up another in a car loaded
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
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
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
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
This post was originally published on The Dallas Morning News Food banks have always grappled with supply chain problems. We will never forget that just over a year ago millions of Texans suffered from the winter ice storm that covered the state, causing many to lose electricity, hunt for water and sustain damage to their
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
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
The USDA announced a 27% increase to SNAP benefits for Texas residents, equivalent to $1.5B annually. Food banks welcomed USDA’s Monday announcement of a long overdue update to the calculation of federal food aid that will result in a 27% increase to SNAP benefits for Texas residents, equivalent to $1.5B annually. The Thrifty Food Plan,
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.
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
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 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
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
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
More than 2.5 million households in Texas didn’t always have enough food to eat in November, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. About two-thirds of those households were either Hispanic or Black. This story was originally published in The Texas Tribune. Food banks across Texas are projecting food shortages in coming months due to the
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
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,
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
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
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
“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 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
