Addressing Hunger in the Rio Grande Valley: Community Leaders and Advocacy Partners Unite for Change
By Elket Rodríguez
On August 20, 2024, dozens of community leaders and agency representatives gathered at the Food Bank of the Rio Grande Valley in Pharr, Texas, to confront one of the region’s most pressing issues: hunger. Organized by Bread for the World, the House of Love and Justice (HLJ) and the Food Bank, the event sought to spotlight the growing crisis of food insecurity in the Rio Grande Valley (RGV).
One stark reality highlighted during the meeting was the strain on Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, which families often find insufficient to last through the month. The conversation revealed that nearly 44% of children in the Valley rely on SNAP, and one in four families in the region are food insecure. Additionally, nearly 30% of households participate in SNAP, but many are still short one meal per person each day, making it difficult to meet basic nutritional needs.
Libby Ann Saenz, CEO of the Food Bank of the Rio Grande Valley, reported a sharp 18-20% increase in clients seeking food each month. The number of families requesting assistance tends to double or triple by the end of the month when SNAP benefits run low, particularly for high-demand items like meat. "More people are needing the services we provide," Saenz shared. "With our partners, we feed 85,000 individuals a week, distributing 1 million pounds of food weekly."
Caly Fernandez, Executive Director of HLJ, provided additional insight into the challenges faced by families in Hidalgo County, where approximately 940 colonias—unincorporated communities largely populated by undocumented immigrants—are struggling. Fernandez noted that 80% of children in these colonias are food insecure, with median household incomes falling below $26,000. "The level of hunger we’re seeing in the colonias is alarming," said Fernandez. "Families are doing everything they can to survive, but the gaps in resources are far too wide."
Elket Rodriguez, CBF Global Migration Advocate, echoed these concerns. "It is really disappointing to see the data on hunger in the Rio Grande Valley," said Rodriguez, who was also present at the gathering. "We already know there’s a lot of need in the Valley, but seeing the hunger issues firsthand and realizing the continued impact on our communities is staggering."
During the meeting, under the leadership of Bread for the World's Ken Fujimoto and Felipe and Kathy Salinas, the group united around three key policy initiatives to combat hunger in the RGV:
Ensure SNAP keeps the Thrifty Food Plan, which considers food-price inflation, dietary guidelines, and the cost of healthy meals.
Expand the Child Tax Credit to prioritize reducing child poverty and ending hunger.
Address college student hunger by closing the "SNAP gap" for eligible students.
These policy goals reflect the urgency of addressing hunger at both the local and national levels, as advocates and community leaders continue to push for long-term solutions.
