Waco food distribution serves 200 families during SNAP benefit fears

WACO, Texas (KWTX) - While Congress reached a deal to reopen the government, families grew worried about SNAP benefits being disrupted, especially with the holidays around the corner.

Some local food pantries say that fear alone brought more people in line at food distributions, like the event hosted by Waco ISD and Shepherd’s Heart at Brooke Avenue Elementary School. The distribution helped 200 families.

Car lines packed the elementary school parking lot with people and dedicated volunteers working to close the hunger gap.

“The phrase, ‘it takes a village to raise kids,’ it’s not always the people around or in church, sometimes it’s the community,” said Gloria Weaver, who attended the distribution.

Community support during uncertain times

Weaver said the government shutting down was a scary time for families and understands why people still showed up to the food distribution.

“Not everyone is on food stamps because they’re lazy, they don’t work, and don’t want to do it on their own. Sometimes, you’re working two to three jobs and you still can’t put food on the table,” Weaver said.

Brooke Avenue Elementary Assistant Principal Sage Cavazos said many students at the school rely on SNAP benefits, with some students solely getting their food from school meals. He said this partnership with Shepherd’s Heart removes stress from 200 families.

“It’s important because a lot of our families and a lot of our students, without the access to SNAP benefits may go hungry. These events that we host once a month are able to provide families food that will last them a week or two,” Cavazos said.

Holiday relief for families

Weaver said no child should worry if they’re going to eat or not.

“I think doing this, not only does it show that you can be humbled and that you do need to take care of your family, but there’s options,” she said, “The way housing is and everything, it’s hard. That was a very scary time for families, so these kinds of things take that pressure off. The holidays should be about good feelings and for being thankful for what God gives you, not how am I going to put food on the table?”

Shepherd’s Heart also gave away 25 turkeys with all of the fixings for people at the event.

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