By Jennifer Dorsett
Field Editor
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, the need for hunger relief has increased in Polk County.
The rise in hungry residents spurred Polk County Farm Bureau (CFB) to use the Texas Farm Bureau (TFB) Feeding the Need co-op contribution program to donate $1,000 each to two area food banks, according to Polk CFB board member Gary Ashmore.
“We have two major food banks for Polk County, both of which are located in Livingston,” Ashmore said. “They’re both run mainly by volunteers, and the majority of their volunteers are senior citizens. Those folks need to socially distance and isolate as much as possible since they’re a higher-risk category, so that’s really been a big complication for the organizations, especially as they deal with an increased need for services.”
Center of Hope is an emergency food and supplies provider that partners with the county to provide first response in times of natural disaster. Ashmore said the group has a 22-year history as a food pantry, serving thousands of recipients in the county each year.
The other food bank in town, MannaFest, is supported by donations and through local churches. Among other community assistance efforts, MannaFest provides monthly boxes of food to families who receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits to help boost their food supply.
Polk CFB donated $1,000 to Center of Hope for food relief, and $1,000 to MannaFest to assist with the food pantry and building expansion.
“There has absolutely been an increased need for food assistance and hunger relief in Polk County after COVID-19. Center for Hope has seen an increase in need for services by about 40 percent, and MannaFest is working to expand their facilities for the same reason,” Ashmore said. “It’s unfortunate, but the economic need is growing with no light at the end of the tunnel, so to speak. We’re already an economically depressed area, so any downturn in the local economy can spell disaster for many of those families living on the edge.”
The timing of the donation allowed the agencies to provide more food to families just in time for Thanksgiving.
“Anything the Farm Bureau can do to help is greatly appreciated by these organizations who are helping our residents, and we were glad to take part and thankful for Texas Farm Bureau’s assistance in being able to donate so generously,” Ashmore said.
Through TFB’s Feeding the Need program, TFB will match county Farm Bureau donations of up to $1,000 for any qualified donation, with priority given to food-related efforts. For more information on the program, click here.