Over 17,000 individuals across Hays County did not receive their SNAP benefits for the month of November. Food insecurity is at an all-time high with the uncertainty surrounding the return of SNAP benefits. In response multiple community organizations in San Marcos and Hays County have launched the For Our Neighbors Fund. 100% of proceeds will go directly to the Hays County Food Bank. Donations can be made through the United Way’s website at unitedwayhaysco. org/ourneighbors- fund.
This coordinated community effort includes partnerships with the Hays County Food Bank, the United Way of Hays & Caldwell Counties, San Marcos CISD and the San Marcos Texas Community Foundation, with support from the city of San Marcos and Hays County. A press conference was held at the San Marcos Area Chamber of Commerce building to announce the fund. Community members and leaders were present to show support and explain the needs rising in Hays County.
“Everyone who’s following the news lately understands that we’re facing as big a crisis, honestly, that we ever have,” Hays County Food Bank Executive Director Lisa Young said. “The food bank has been around for 42 years, and we’ve never seen SNAP benefits be discontinued like this.” She explained that the pause on federal aid results in a 90% gap in food assistance funding for the region. The food bank has already seen an increased demand for services.
”It’s very difficult for food banks across the nation to absorb this kind of change and to prepare for this level of increased need as well as shortages in the food supply,” Young said.
In response, the The Hays County Food Bank is committing to being open for extra hours as well as expanding their market service days to add 450 new appointments in November and 500 in December as well as purchasing extra food to match the increased need.
“The only way that we’re able to make those changes and absorb that kind of budget hit is with the entire community’s help,” Young said.
Executive Director for the United Way of Hays County and SMCISD Board Member Miguel Arredondo spoke on how federal aid withholding is affecting San Marcos children and families. He explained that 1 in 3 students and 1 in 3 families in SMCISD are recipients of SNAP benefits and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), totaling to 2733 students enrolled in SMCISD.
“It is so great to see the business community step up and step forward to help fill that need,” Arredondo said. President of the San Marcos TX Community Foundation Thomas Curtis spoke on the partnership that made this fund possible.
“The For Our Neighbors Fund is a united effort, not three different organizations doing three different things, but one coordinated campaign with one mission, whether you give through United Way, the Hays County Food Bank or directly through our foundation, every dollar goes to the same pool, and all of it stays right here in our community,” Curtis said.
He explained the role the San Marcos Chamber of Commerce plays in raising funds.
“We need to activate the business community, so we look to engage our vendors, employers, entrepreneurs and partners; the people who always step up for this city when it matters most. Because the truth is, hunger doesn’t wait on budgets. So we will fill that gap,” Curtis said.
He urged businesses and partners to donate and encouraged them to influence their team and customers to participate in raising funds.
“San Marcos has never been a community that waits for someone else to solve a problem. We come together, we roll up our sleeves and we make sure our neighbors are taken care of,” Curtis said.
Hays County Commissioner for Precinct 2 and Hays County Food Bank Board Member Michelle Cohen spoke on her experience combating food insecurity in Hays County, reflecting on the intensity and uncertainty during COVID.
“I don’t believe anyone should not have access to basic food. We can’t control what happens at the federal level. We can’t control what happens at the state level, but guess what? We can do something in Hays County, and it takes partnerships, collaboration to do that work,” Cohen said. “I have seen the miracle of community in the COVID pandemic. It is the miracle to see what happens when businesses and nonprofits and other organizations come together, we can do anything.”
At the county level, Cohen and cosponsor Hays County Commissioner for District 1 Debbie Ingalsbe have placed on the agenda $50,000 dedicated to the Hays County Food Bank. She requested the community reach out by emailing the Commissioners Court to ask them to approve this item. Cohen explained that in her district 15% of Hays CISD students rely on SNAP meaning 3800 students in Kyle and Buda will also be affected.
Young added that increased sign-ups at the food bank does not result in a spike that goes up and comes back down.
“What has happened to us every time there has been any kind of problem with the federal government, certainly during COVID, certainly when the COVID benefits sunsetted in 2023 is that the demand goes up and it never goes back down,” Young said.
“Because of our new location, our demand had actually already gone up because a lot of people were interested in that, and we’re thrilled to be reaching that many people. But the reality is we have 17,000 additional individuals across the county that did not get their SNAP today,” Young said. “We have more people than ever that need the food bank, and so the food bank needs you. We need you to donate and we need you to volunteer.”
As of Monday Nov. 3, the Trump administration said it will partially fund SNAP using emergency funds. No date has been set as to when those partial funds will be available.
For more information on how to help or receive assistance visit haysfoodbank. org.
