WITH YOUR HELP, NEEDS THE HUNGRY
There was a time when hunger seemed like a problem for distant parts of the world. Now we know it affects thousands of families in our own community. Prior to the pandemic, the Joanne Watford Nutrition Center (JWNC) at NAM served an average of 60 to 75 households a week. This year it served between 200 and 300 per week—a total of 32,854 individuals.
“The numbers have just drastically increased, it hits you like a ton of bricks to see that.”
- Allison Booker-Brooks, Chief Program Officer
A high percentage of people who received food from the JWNC this year had never requested help from NAM before. They are families with children, single adults, and seniors. Many had been receiving disaster unemployment benefits, including SNAP for food assistance. But when the disaster declaration was lifted, those benefits ended.
“Everyone kept saying the pandemic was over, but it wasn’t,” says Karen Weakly, Director of Client Services for NAM. “What we didn’t take into account was the aftershock. It was the aftershock that we felt in 2021-22.” In response to the high demand for food, NAM has continued to offer large community food distributions on a quarterly basis. Held in partnership with the Houston Food Bank, the drive-through distributions served 8,327 families this year.
During the early morning hours on distribution days, a line of cars stretched all the way from NAM to FM 1960, with some families arriving as early as 5:30 a.m. to ensure their place. Our neighbors need our help, and we need your help to continue these important programs.
To honor NAM's 40th anniversary, our #40for40 campaign is hoping to raise at least $40 from supporters like you so we can keep feeding the hungry in our community. Please bless NAM, and the neighbors we serve, with your #40for40 contribution now.
