Food Insecurity

More than half of families with school-aged children faced food insecurity over the last year. Parents also said concerns over whether they can afford nutritious food for their households is taking a toll on their mental health.

The Hays County Food Bank is relocating to a bigger space to accommodate the growing need for its services. The food bank expects to distribute more food this year than ever before.

Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller said last summer, participating sites served more than 13 million meals statewide. Dozens of schools in Central Texas will be offering free meals starting in late May and early June.

The Central Texas Food Bank officially launched its Feeding Futures School Pantry Program at a Del Valle ISD elementary school on Wednesday. The organization hopes to provide 30 meals per student each month.

State agencies said the U.S. Department of Agriculture did not provide enough information in time for Texas to implement the Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer Program in 2024.

Portions of the proceeds from more than a dozen businesses will be donated to the longtime haven for Austinites trying to get out of homelessness.

The Texas Legislature is spending $6.6 million over the next two years to cover the cost of breakfast for students who qualify for reduced-price meals. The new funding is going to benefit about 1,800 students in Austin ISD.

A federal waiver that allowed schools to provide free meals to all students regardless of family income expired after Republicans in Congress blocked efforts to renew it.

The soup will go to the university's food pantry. The Food for Fines program runs through March 24.

Starting this month, Texans who use SNAP benefits to buy groceries will have an average of $212 less per month to buy groceries, as pandemic-era increases to the food assistance program are ended.