Rising food insecurity

Pantry calls for generosity alongside record-setting numbers

BASTROP — The county’s first line of defense for families going through a period of transition set a new record for local service amidst increasing requests for aid.

The Bastrop County Emergency Food Pantry was hit hard in 2023 with a 31% increase in requests for food and support services over 2022. Dedicated workers and volunteers served 5,609 people and handed out 446,859 pounds of food over the course of the year, a record number in all of the pantry’s 37 years of business, according to Director of Marketing and Communications Kelly Manfredini.

“In all of the 22-plus years that I have worked for this organization, I have never seen the need this high. The low food supply and the high need combined to create a perfect storm,” said Executive Director Tresha Silva in a 2023 interview with the Courier.

Food insecurity has seen an 89% increase over the past three years, according to the team, and Bastrop’s premier pantry stays open five days a week to combat this statistic.

“In our rural community, there are many food deserts and the need for access to food is paramount,” added Manfredini.

One of the pantry’s most popular programs is NIBBLES, providing weekend meals and snacks during the school year for 272 high-risk students across seven rural elementary and middle schools in Bastrop. While the campuses provide in-school food, families are often left with little or no other options for weekends.

The food pantry provides five pounds of meals and snacks every week during the school year, and administrators report that students in the program show an increase in participation, concentration and overall academic performance, according to Manfredini.

Families rely on meal programs like these throughout the summer months, but a reduction of $360,000 in state funding is putting added strain on the organization.

The Bastrop County Emergency Food Pantry anticipates that they will experience an even bigger spike in requests for food during 2024 summer months. This is a challenge, as the food supply chain continues to experience shortages, according to Manfredini.

Last summer, the Food Pantry had to increase their food spending by 200% to keep up with the high demand.

“This is not sustainable,” added the director.

The food pantry will need the support of the community to continue to serve the county’s most vulnerable neighbors in their time of need.

Information on how to help can be found at https://www.bastropfoodpantry.org.