KTAB, KRBC, BigCountryHomepage.com hosting food drive this week

BIG COUNTRY, Texas (KTAB/KRBC) – KTAB, KRBC, Telemundo Abilene and BigCountryHomepage.com are joining forces with three community partners to host a food drive on Thursday and Friday, November 6–7. The drive will benefit the Food Bank of West Central Texas, which will receive 100% of the donations. Hardin-Simmons University, Wylie ISD and United Supermarkets will serve as public drop-off locations.

The drive will collect donated non-perishable food items to help address food insecurity, which continues to impact many families in the Abilene area. The need has become especially urgent during the ongoing government shutdown. Even if federal operations resume this week, food insecurity remains a serious and persistent challenge in our community. As reported last week by Tobin Smith, United Way of Abilene saw a 10% increase in calls for help during the final week of October.

“We have gainfully employed federal employees who are going to work every day but are not receiving a paycheck. With that comes the increased stress of ‘How am I going to cover my mortgage this month? How am I going to cover my car payments?’ There are programs available for them that our generous community has provided and that we are able to use,” United Way of Abilene’s Chief Development Officer, Katie Deal, said.

Of course, part of the stress people feel is the cost of food. That’s where the food drive can help.

Patrick Dembach, Director of Operations Food Bank of West Central Texas, said, “The food bank will share 100% of the donated food with neighbors and partner agencies in the 13-county service area of the Food Bank of West Central Texas.”

Drop-off locations:

• Hardin-Simmons University
  • Ellis Engagement Center at 2211 Cedar St.
• Wylie ISD
  • Wylie ISD Administrative Building at 6251 Buffalo Gap Rd.
• United Supermarkets
  • All United Supermarkets (North Willis, Judge Ely, S. 14th) and Market Street (Buffalo Gap Rd.)