As you hopefully know, I started working at the Central Texas Food Bank a few months ago. During this time, I have learned so much about food insecurity and hunger. Our friends, family, neighbors and those in our communities may be experiencing food insecurity and we don't even know.

Hunger affects people from all walks of life. Working families, retired seniors on fixed incomes, grandparents with custody of grandchildren, the chronically ill and the disabled all turn to the Food Bank for help in emergencies or as part of their regular meal planning.

Nearly 437,000 people in the 21 counties we serve faced hunger last year. Inflation and higher costs of living have driven a sustained increase in the demand for our services. With hunger impacting 1 in 7 Central Texans and higher rates in some groups we all know someone who is going through this or who has gone through this. For many of us, it has been someone we love. Maybe it has been us.

The amazing thing is that even though hunger is a large and complex issue, our community is also large, and full of understanding and generosity. It takes our entire community coming together to ensure all our neighbors have food on the table.

If you are able to donate money to help the Central Texas Food Bank so we can help those experiencing food insecurity, I would be so appreciative! This is Hunger Action Month and we are doing what we can to bring food insecurity awareness!

Thank you for your support in feeding Central Texan families in need!