Williamsburg Settlement Residents Can Help Fight Hunger Through HCESD 48’s 2026 Share Your Holidays Food Drive at Four Katy Fire Stations

For families struggling to keep groceries on the table, the holiday season can bring added financial pressure. This November, residents of Williamsburg Settlement have a convenient opportunity to make a difference close to home, thanks to a holiday food drive organized by the firefighters who serve their community.

The Harris County Emergency Services District No. 48 Fire Department (HCESD 48) is collecting nonperishable food donations at four Katy-area fire stations through Tuesday, December 1, 2026, as part of the 46th annual ABC13 Share Your Holidays Food Drive benefiting the Houston Food Bank.

The effort gives local residents a simple way to support neighbors facing hunger, whether that means picking up a few extra canned goods during a weekly grocery trip, gathering donations with friends and family, or making a monetary contribution.

For families in Williamsburg Settlement, it is also an opportunity to participate in a Greater Houston tradition that has brought communities together for more than four decades.

Where to Donate Food in Katy: Four HCESD 48 Fire Station Drop-Off Locations

HCESD 48 has designated four fire stations as collection locations for this year's Share Your Holidays Food Drive, making it easier for residents across Katy and West Houston to participate.

Food donations will be accepted through December 1, 2026, at the following locations:

• HCESD 48 Fire Station 1: 24127 Western Centre Dr., Katy, TX 77494

• HCESD 48 Fire Station 3: 1773 Westgreen Blvd., Katy, TX 77450

• HCESD 48 Fire Station 4: 22855 Franz Rd., Katy, TX 77449

• HCESD 48 Fire Station 5: 21201 Morton Rd., Katy, TX 77449

ABC13 has also identified Station 5 as an official Giving Tuesday collection site, with a scheduled donation window from 8 a.m. to noon on December 1. HCESD 48 has not specified daily collection hours for all four stations, so residents planning a special trip may want to confirm availability with the department.

What Items Are Needed for the Share Your Holidays Food Drive?

The Houston Food Bank encourages donations of nutritious, shelf-stable foods that can help families prepare meals and maintain access to everyday essentials.

Among the most-needed items are canned vegetables, fruits, beans, soups, meats and pasta, preferably with low sodium content and easy-open lids when available. Other useful contributions include granola bars, crackers, nuts, dried fruit, shelf-stable milk and low-sugar juice.

Donations should be unopened and nonperishable. Homemade foods, refrigerated or frozen items, and opened packages cannot be accepted.

Residents who prefer to give financially can contribute through ABC13's 2026 Share Your Holidays campaign or text SYH2026 to 71777 to access the donation process.

According to the Houston Food Bank, every dollar donated helps provide three meals to people facing hunger.

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A Houston Holiday Tradition That Began in 1980

For longtime Houston-area residents, the name Share Your Holidays may bring back memories of television broadcasts showing families, businesses, churches and school groups arriving with bags and boxes of food.

The tradition began in 1980, when ABC13 launched a televised food drive to encourage Houstonians to help neighbors in need. What was originally envisioned as a one-hour effort grew into a much larger community event, eventually becoming one of the region's longstanding holiday giving traditions.

Now in its 46th year, ABC13's Share Your Holidays Food Drive continues to benefit the Houston Food Bank, which distributes food and provides assistance through a network of approximately 1,600 community partners across 18 Southeast Texas counties.

The campaign brings together donations of food, financial contributions and volunteer support, including a special phone bank that helps people experiencing food insecurity reserve holiday food boxes through the Houston Food Bank's partner network.

In 2025, contributions to Share Your Holidays helped provide more than 1.1 million meals, according to ABC13 and the Houston Food Bank.

The 2026 campaign culminates on Giving Tuesday, December 1, with donation collection events and a live ABC13 broadcast highlighting the community's efforts.

Why the Share Your Holidays Food Drive Matters to Katy Families

Food insecurity does not always look the way people expect. It can affect working parents balancing groceries with housing costs, seniors living on fixed incomes, or families facing an unexpected medical bill or job loss.

According to ABC13, approximately one million people in Southeast Texas experience food insecurity, meaning they do not consistently have access to enough nutritious food.

Although the Houston Food Bank serves a large geographic area, its work reaches communities throughout Greater Houston, including the Katy area. Local collection efforts such as HCESD 48's food drive help support that broader network of food assistance.

For HCESD 48, participation in Share Your Holidays also represents another way the department connects with the people it serves. While firefighters and emergency medical personnel are best known for responding to emergencies, the annual collection effort gives residents an opportunity to work alongside their local first responders in support of a shared community need.

And for neighbors who want to help, the commitment does not have to be large. A few cans of soup, a box of crackers or a small financial gift can become part of a much larger effort.

How Williamsburg Settlement Residents Can Participate Before December 1

With the donation deadline approaching, residents can begin gathering nonperishable food now and drop it off at one of the four participating HCESD 48 stations.

Families can also involve children in selecting donations, organize a small neighborhood collection, or share the drop-off information with neighbors who may want to participate.

For those interested in volunteering or learning more about holiday food assistance, the Houston Food Bank's official Share Your Holidays webpage provides information about the campaign and its volunteer opportunities.

The message behind this effort is a familiar one in Katy: helping neighbors does not always require a major undertaking. Sometimes, it begins with a simple decision to give what one can.

As the holiday season continues, My Neighborhood News will keep residents informed about local food drives, volunteer opportunities and community initiatives bringing Katy-area neighbors together.

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.