Scouts Fight Food Insecurity in Southeast Texas, Donating Over 70,000 Pounds to Local Food Banks
Food insecurity remains a growing challenge for families across Southeast Texas, with more than one million people in the Greater Houston area struggling to put food on the table, according to Feeding America. In Harris County alone, the food insecurity rate stands at 16.6%, with children affected at an even higher rate of 23.6%, meaning more than one in five children do not know where their next meal will come from.
With rising costs of living, inflation, and the end of pandemic-related benefits contributing to increased demand on local food banks, the need for community support has never been greater. Recognizing this urgent issue, Scouts from the Sam Houston Area Council (SHAC) of Scouting America took action, launching a large-scale food drive to help families in need.
As part of the Scouting for Food program, Scouts collected over 70,000 pounds of food, which is expected to help feed more than 5,000 families through the summer months. This initiative, which has been a cornerstone of Scouting for four decades, was revitalized after a brief pause during the pandemic.
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Community-Driven Efforts to End Hunger
The food drive kicked off on January 25, 2025, when Scouts across 16 counties distributed door hangers in neighborhoods stretching from Madisonville to Matagorda and Columbus to Mont Belvieu. A week later, on February 1, 2025, they returned to collect non-perishable donations left outside residents' homes. The collected food was then sorted and delivered to area food banks, including Northwest Assistance Ministries, Tomball Emergency Assistance Ministries, SVDP St. Anne Catholic Church Food Distribution Center, Lydia’s Pantry, and Prince of Peace, among others.
“Our community faces a growing challenge with food insecurity, and we’re called to contribute to the ongoing effort of bringing relief to our neighbors throughout Houston,” said Karen Stancik, a district and council volunteer and this year’s Scouting for Food chair. “Scouts are called to help people in need at all times. Through Scouting for Food, Scouts practice the value of service in their neighborhoods and learn about the real problem of food insecurity here in Houston.”
Collectively, Scouts logged over 6,500 volunteer hours on this year’s food drive, reinforcing the impact that community-driven initiatives can have in the fight against hunger.
Local Scouts distributing door tags for the annual Scouting for Food initiative. (Source: SHAC)Food Banks See a Rising Need for Donations
Local food pantries are experiencing increased demand, highlighting the importance of efforts like Scouting for Food. John Norris, food pantry manager at SVDP St. Anne in Tomball, emphasized how crucial food donations are to supporting families in need.
“There is no doubt that food donations in any amount are the lifeblood of a food pantry, but especially a pantry that is seeing the kind of growth that we are at SVDP St. Anne in Tomball,” said Norris. “For much of the past 20 years, our average customer base was about 120 families per week. Today, that number is routinely 140 families per week, with spikes to 170-180 families. In 2024, we served more families than ever before, feeding nearly 7,400 families or 615 per month for a total of about 31,000 individuals.”
For food banks, initiatives like Scouting for Food provide vital resources at a time when many families are struggling.
“We operate in a food desert, and for many in our community, there is not easy access to food,” said Alison Booker-Brooks, Chief Operating Officer of Northwest Assistance Ministries. “Our local pantry is crucial to support food insecurity, and the pantry depends on community support. We can’t do it without volunteers and donations, and we are very reliant on organizations like the Scouts.”
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Scouts Answer the Call to Serve
Beyond helping those in need, Scouting for Food also serves as a valuable learning experience for young Scouts. By participating, they gain a firsthand understanding of economic disparities and the importance of service in their communities.
“While we strive to serve as many people as we are able, the heart of our SVDP conference is the volunteers themselves, who annually contribute upwards of 10,000 hours of service that change lives,” added Norris.
As food insecurity continues to impact thousands of families in Southeast Texas, initiatives like Scouting for Fooddemonstrate the power of community action and the positive influence young leaders can have in addressing local challenges.
For more information on how to support Scouting for Food or to contribute to local food banks, visit shacbsa.org/scouting-for-food.
By Tiffany Krenek, My Neighborhood News 
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.
