LSC-Kingwood and HAAM will host Community Food Fairs and Food Distribution events on the college campus this fall.
Hunger and food insecurity are growing problems across the country.
According to Feeding America, one in eight Texans (3.7 million) experience food insecurity. Locally those numbers are 695,310 for Harris County and 73,560 for Montgomery County.
“Since the COVID-19 pandemic, food insecurity has increased due to several factors, such as loss of income, death in the family, increased medical bills, and inflation. Today, even more Americans are struggling with the choice between paying rent to keep a roof over their head, electric bills to keep the a/c on, or consistent meals on the table,” said Dr. Sandra Zito, a history professor at LSC-Kingwood.
To help address those needs, LSC, in collaboration with the Humble Area Assistance Ministries (HAAM), has assisted many families in the Lake Houston area and East Montgomery County at its Community Food Fair. The partnership will again host two events this fall, Oct. 12 and Nov. 2, from 9-11 a.m. (until supplies last) in Parking Lot G at the college. Boxes of fresh vegetables, fruits, meat, and baked goods such as bread and pastries will be available.
“Our Community Food Fair helps alleviate that choice by providing food insecure residents with access to more regular meals,” Zito said.
LSC-Kingwood’s Coyote Cupboard and HAAM provide canned goods at its monthly food distribution events for families who need assistance more than twice a semester.
“Our goal is to provide a contactless process for distributing food to our students, employees, and community,” said Al Dorsey, student life director at LSC-Kingwood.
The Coyote Cupboard Food Distribution events are held every other Tuesday from 1-2 p.m. in the circle driveway outside the Student Conference Center. The next dates are Oct. 4, Oct. 18, Nov. 1, Nov. 15, Nov. 29, and Dec. 13. Registration is required (LoneStar.edu/mobile-food-pantry-request-form) as only 30 slots are available on each date.
LSC-Kingwood is located at 20000 Kingwood Drive. For more information on the Community Food Fair, email Sandra.Zito@LoneStar.edu. For additional details on the Coyote Cupboard Food Distribution events, email Alfred.Dorsey@LoneStar.edu.