SAGINAW, Texas — To keep up with record demand, a Tarrant County food bank has cut the amount of food it allocates each day to people in need.
The Community Link mission in Saginaw previously distributed about 100 pounds of food to each family attending its drive-thru pickup events. Now, development director Trey Harper says the food bank has reduced its issuance to between 50 and 60 pounds per family.
The change highlights a disturbing trend toward food insecurity affecting families that have not before relied on assistance or charity.
"Compared to a year ago, it's gotten a lot worse for us," Harper told WFAA. "Demand is higher than ever, even more than during COVID. We're seeing first-time people who've never been to a food pantry before, now know how it works or what to do."
Harper says Community Link currently serves as many as 180 families each day, four days per week. During the pandemic's height, the pantry served about 100 families each day, three days per week.
Scores of cars line up outside the food bank on pickup days. The traffic sometimes spills onto U.S. Highway 287, blocking the right lane.
"Because desperation is so high and we're first-come, first-serve, the line starts forming well before 7:30 a.m. every day," Harper said. "We don't open until 9 a.m."
The Saginaw Police Department has stationed officers at the food bank on drive-thru pickup days to help guide the vehicles. The line often wraps around four residential blocks.
Police have also settled disputes between drivers who cut in line and calmed families who arrive after the 10:30 a.m. cutoff.
"We had a person who was in traffic and the police officer said, 'If you don't get out of the way, I have to write you a ticket.' He responded, 'Go ahead and write me the ticket. I need the food,'" said Harper.
Hoping to mitigate traffic problems, Community Link intends to move toward a schedule-ahead pickup system.
Harper blames the unprecedented demand on population growth, inflation, and new limitations on government aid. Need ballooned around March, he says, soon after Congress stopped boosting SNAP benefits for the first time since 2020.
"We've already seen over 26,000 families this year and we still have one of the busiest months to go," he said.
Community Link has purchased food to supplement depleting donations. It needs money, food, hygiene products and more volunteers, Harper said.
"We can take a dollar a lot further than someone going to the grocery store and buying the cans because we can get them a little cheaper," he added.
To donate or sign up to volunteer, visit the Community Link website.