The federal shutdown has continued for over a month with no end in sight. Out of all Americans, 12% rely on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, which is funded by the U.S. government. This percentage means that nearly 42 million people will be affected by a lapse in monetary benefits. In light of this crisis, President Donald Trump’s administration warned that SNAP recipients will not receive financial aid starting on Nov. 1, leaving nearly 42 million people hungry.
Many communities across the nation have come together to help Americans avoid this cruel fate by donating essential resources, such as food and money. In Texas, the popular grocer, H-E-B, serves as a hero to families suffering from the shutdown.
Although some state governments support their citizens with sizable donations, not all have come up with solutions to address food insecurity. Texas is one of the states whose government hesitates to assist starving families. Despite the state being wary of providing support to those who are struggling, H-E-B is not. The grocer has partnered with two organizations to ease the stress of Texans impacted by this crisis. H-E-B has provided $5 million to Feeding Texas and $1 million to Meals on Wheels. The company’s large donation will aid these two organizations in providing food to many Texans in a time of uncertainty.
H-E-B is not solely assisting its community monetarily; the grocer annually hosts a series of holiday dinners across Texas and Mexico, known as the Feast of Sharing, which consists of 34 dinners that typically serve more than 340,000 meals. Each event is run with the help of 7,000 volunteers. This program helps residents in need of food, and it will be invaluable this holiday season. H-E-B’s act of benevolence will assist struggling Texans during this crisis, but the donated funds will not last forever.
The government shutdown must end soon to prevent millions of Americans from suffering. In Texas, roughly 3.5 million people are enrolled for SNAP benefits, with more than one-third of these recipients being children. Luckily, the Lone Star State has a strong community, which has incessantly assisted the less fortunate. H-E-B and other local organizations have come together to ensure the well-being of Texans during this hardship and will continue showing appreciation for the community.
