Advocate for a Hunger-Free South Texas

Strengthening food access across Webb, Zapata, Jim Hogg, Starr, Maverick, Dimmit, Kinney, and Val Verde counties

 

South Texas Food Bank is part of the Feeding America network working to end hunger through both direct food assistance and strong public policy solutions.

 

We advocate for policies that strengthen federal nutrition programs, reduce barriers to food access, and address the root causes of food insecurity across South Texas.

 

Why Advocacy Matters

 

Food insecurity in South Texas is driven by structural barriers, including:

 

• High poverty and low-wage work

• Rural isolation and limited grocery access

• Barriers to SNAP, WIC, and school meal enrollment

• Limited transportation in rural and colonia communities

• High rates of seniors on fixed incomes

• Food deserts across border and rural counties

 

Public policy plays a critical role in reducing hunger at scale.

 

Our Federal Policy Priorities

• Aligned with Feeding America national advocacy priorities

• Protect and Strengthen SNAP

 

SNAP is the nation’s most effective anti-hunger program and a lifeline for families across South Texas.

 

We support:

 

• Protecting SNAP from funding cuts

• Ensuring benefits reflect the real cost of food

• Reducing administrative barriers to access

• Improving access for seniors, children, and working families

• Strengthen Child Nutrition Programs

 

No child should experience hunger.

 

We support:

 

• Universal access to school meals

• Expanded summer meal programs in rural communities

• Continued investment in WIC

• Strong nutrition standards that support child health

• Invest in Emergency Food Assistance (TEFAP)

 

TEFAP strengthens food banks’ ability to serve families in need.

 

We support:

 

• Increased USDA commodity investments

• Reliable access to nutritious food sources

• Infrastructure that supports rural and mobile distribution

• Strengthening last-mile delivery in underserved areas

• Remove Barriers to Food Access

 

We support policies that make it easier for eligible households to receive food assistance.

 

This includes:

 

• Streamlined enrollment and renewal processes

• Improved bilingual access and digital tools

• Reduced administrative burden for families and seniors

• Policies that prevent benefit loss during temporary income changes

• Address Root Causes of Hunger

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Ending hunger requires addressing economic insecurity.

 

We support:

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• Stronger pathways to economic mobility and stable employment

• Investments in rural infrastructure and food systems

• Affordable housing and utility support programs

• Food recovery and local agriculture partnerships

• South Texas Focus: Rural and Border Hunger

 

Our eight-county service area faces unique challenges:

 

• Long distances between food retail centers in Kinney, Dimmit, and Jim Hogg

• High senior populations in Val Verde, Zapata, and Starr counties

• Cross-border economic pressure impacting Webb and Maverick counties

• Limited transportation and infrastructure in rural and colonia communities

• Persistent food deserts and low grocery access in unincorporated areas

 

These realities require strong, sustained public investment and policy solutions.

 

Our Role in Advocacy

 

South Texas Food Bank:

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• Partners with Feeding America on national policy priorities

• Shares local data and community impact stories

• Engages elected officials on hunger-related issues

• Elevates the voices of neighbors with lived experience

• Supports bipartisan solutions that reduce food insecurity

 

Advocacy strengthens our ability to serve families today and build long-term solutions for tomorrow.

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Take Action

Join us in the fight to end hunger

 

You can help by:

 

• Supporting strong federal nutrition programs (SNAP, WIC, TEFAP, school meals)

• Contacting elected officials about hunger-related policies

• Sharing your experience with food insecurity

• Supporting investments that expand food access in South Texas

 

Together, we can build a South Texas where every neighbor has consistent access to nutritious food.

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Get Involved

Donate

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