Cypress Assistance Ministries Experiences Sharp Increase in Food Assistance Needs
It's no secret that the cost of living has put strain on nearly everyone across the country, including the Cy-Fair region. This is especially true for our most vulnerable neighbors, who struggle to make ends meet even in mild economic times. As inflation crunches down on families who were barely staying afloat before, more and more families are looking to local nonprofits for assistance to meet their most basic needs.
This strain hits closer to home than many might realize. During the first quarter of 2023, Cypress Assistance Ministries (CAM), a nonprofit that supports residents across the broader Cypress region, saw an alarming 76% increase in people seeking client services generally. While inflation continues to rise and an already unlivable minimum wage remains unchanged, many families are seeking help with food as well as financial assistance to pay for high utility bills that resulted from the intense heat this summer. CAM has even run out of gasoline cards for clients, many of whom barley have enough gas to drive to CAM for assistance.
"People are desperate and we are trying to encourage them. They are in dire need and it is really a struggle. We are the only nonprofit in this area that provides financial support to our clients," said Lauren McCardell with Cypress Assistance Ministries.
Cypress Assistance Ministries is a faith based organization that serves individuals and families in financial crisis, those on the brink of homelessness, the elderly, the unemployed and anyone that needs hope for a better future. Assistance ranges from financial help with rent or utilities, food, furniture, clothing and household goods to providing job counseling services and job leads.
One of the many ways that CAM works to bridge the gap and ease the emotional toll on clients is through their food pantry. Designed much like a grocery store, clients can peruse several aisles of shelves with shelf-stable foods and a refrigerated case with milk, eggs and other perishables. This environment helps clients to feel a sense of normalcy as they pick up food items for their families.
"We want to make sure that when our clients leave CAM, they have a sense of dignity," said McCardell.
Over the last month, Cypress Assistance Ministries has seen a major increase in the number of clients that are in need of help with food and their food pantry supply is diminishing much more rapidly. Items that are most in need include the following:
Food Items
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Cleaning Supplies
Personal Care
For Seniors
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All food pantry items can be dropped off at the food pantry Monday thru Wednesday from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM or Thursday thru Saturday from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM. |
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Cypress Assistance Ministries is asking the community to pick up any number of these items while shopping for their own families and dropping them off at CAM as notated above. Get your friends, family and co-workers involved by organizing a food drive at work, your place of worship, special interest group or your neighborhood. For more information about hosting a food drive for CAM, please contact Henry Lombrana at henryl@cypressassistance.org for details.
Did You Know?According to the Mayo Clinic, research has shown that volunteering offers significant health benefits, especially for older adults, including:
1. Improves physical and mental health. 2. Provides a sense of purpose and teaches valuable skills. 3. Nurture new and existing relationships.
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Tiffany Krenek has been on the My Neighborhood News team since August 2021. She is passionate about curating and sharing content that enriches the lives of our readers in a personal, meaningful way. A loving mother and wife, Tiffany and her family live in the West Houston/Cypress region.
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