Houston Community members talk food insecurity during holiday season

Millions of Americans, including members of our community, face hunger daily. The issue is more pronounced during the holidays. 

Food insecurity remains a persistent issue in the city. According to the Houston Food Bank, nearly 1 in 5 households in the region experience food insecurity. The implications extend beyond hunger—limited access to nutritious food contributes to health disparities that disproportionately affect Black and low-income families.

“Chronic illnesses like diabetes and hypertension are rampant in communities struggling with food insecurity,” said Melinda Balezentis, vice president and national account executive of Cigna Healthcare. “During the holidays, it could be a challenge There are a lot of different food choices. So many desserts and carb-loaded food, so we want to encourage folks to remember to enjoy the holiday but in moderation.”

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, a food desert is an area where at least a third of the population lives more than a mile away from a supermarket in urban areas and more than 10 miles away in rural areas.

Community Impact

The USDA has identified certain areas in and around Houston as food deserts, including Second Ward, Greater Fifth Ward, East End, Galena Park, Channelview, East Houston, Aldine Westfield, Acres Homes, Bellaire and Southwest Houston.

Rice University’s Kinder Institute for Urban Research reports 16.6% food insecurity in Greater Houston, with 724,750 people living in designated food deserts, four percentage points above the national average.

Several initiatives have addressed food deserts in Houston over the years, from Precinct One’s Healthy Food Financing Initiative to the city of Houston’s 100 Pantries in 100 Days initiative to food pantries and distributions. 

City Council member Dr. Carolyn Evans-Shabazz, in collaboration with H-E-B, Career Recovery Re-

sources, Inc., the Houston Texans YMCA, Cigna Healthcare, and others hosted their 4th annual Holiday Fixins Food Distribution. This initiative aimed to provide people with nutritious holiday meals to more than 300 families. 

Evans-Shabazz said that the city received a $2.5 million grant earmarked from the late Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee to start its food insecurity project. Her constituents in District D are concerned about the rising cost of groceries, access to nutritious food, and the economy under the next Presidential administration.  

“This food insecurity project is a little bit different. It’s actually engaging the food bank so that people can go in with dignity and choose the food that they want for their families,” she said. “Rather than getting in lines…where people give you what they think you need.”

Victoria Carriere is a resident of District D. She was unemployed for nearly a year and is just getting back into the workforce. Financially, it was a struggle for her, and the budget got tighter when preparing for the holidays. So, she went to the Holiday Fixins Food Distribution event to provide her family with a nice meal. 

“Anytime I have the opportunity to get something like this is a blessing,” she said. “For us to be able to have something extra on the table to eat and to be able to provide for my family is a blessing.”

Henrietta Hightower is grateful that she lives alone because she empathizes with other people who have other mouths to feed. But she couldn’t deny how that inflation has impacted her as well. With her cancer diagnosis and mourning the loss of her son, her health and eating habits have taken a toll.

“It’s been tight because if you are not paying attention in a household of one person instead of two, it’s going to cost you $100 a week,” Hightower said. “Not having much of an appetite, I can kind of get by, and with all that is going through in my life, I am grateful and thankful.”

Danny Williams is always appreciative when he sees volunteers in the community distributing food to those in need. He has been on Social Security benefits with minimum increases, and the cost of living isn’t keeping up with inflation. Because of his financial situation, he’s had to minimize his medication, not attend doctor’s appointments, or be able to afford healthy meals.

“Our nutrition has diminished due to the lack of funds,” he said. “We need more of these activities on a regular basis.”