ABILENE, Texas (KTAB/KRBC) – Just as they have in years past, Abilene ISD’s Student Nutrition Program and the Abilene Big Country Hunger Coalition are striving to ease parent’s worry of feeding their children this summer – but this time, with an added sense of purpose as the price of goods, groceries, and gas rise.
“I think some people don’t realize it, but we feed children 12 months out of the year,” Kandace Grenwelge, AISD student nutrition director, said.
On a national level, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and Statista, inflation on common household groceries has gone up by nearly eight percent:
“The Consumer Price Index rose 7.9 percent from February 2021 to February 2022, following a 12-month increase of 7.5 percent in January 2022. Food prices increased 7.9 percent for the year ended February 2022, the largest 12-month advance since July 1981.”
By the ides of June, AISD reported having already served more than 10,000 summer meals to its students. Grenwelge says she’s happy to know the program’s service is helping stretch the dollars of local families.
“We know that, especially right now with the price of inflation and the price of gas and everything, that families need some additional help to try to help fill the needs that they might have over the summer,” said Grenwelge.
AISD’s meal program will come to an end on July 28 so nutrition staff can have a break before the start of the school year – that’s when the Abilene Big Country Hunger Coalition will step in to feed children and adults during that three-week gap.
“We have 14 sites this year and because we’re privately funded, we can feed both children and adults,” said Becky Almanza, chair of the ABCHC.
Abilene Big Country Hunger Coalition Summer Meal 2022 sites
| ZIP CODE | HOST SITE | ADDRESS | BREAKFAST | LUNCH | DINNER |
| 79601 | Abilene WIC Office | 850 North 6th Street | Not offered | 11:15 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. | Not offered |
| 79601 | City Light Community Ministries | 336 Hickory Street | Not offered | 10:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. | Not offered |
| 79601 | Grace Fellowship | 910 Cypress Street | Not offered | 11:45 a.m. – 12:45 p.m. | 6:00 – 6:30 p.m., Wednesdays only |
| 79602 | Freedom Fellowship | 941 Chestnut Street | Not offered | 11:45 a.m. – 12:45 p.m. | 6:00 – 6:30 p.m., Wednesdays only |
| 79602 | Salvation Army | 1726 Butternut Street | 6:30 – 7:00 a.m. Monday – Saturday 7:30 – 8:00 a.m. Sundays | 12:30 – 1:00 p.m., closed Wednesdays | 5:30 – 6:00 p.m., closed Wednesdays |
| 79603 | Abilene Housing Authority | 4398 North 7th Street | Not offered | 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. | Not offered |
| 79603 | BOBS/ Perry Center | 301 Beech Street | 6:30 – 7:15 a.m. | Not offered | Not offered |
| 79603 | Abilene Public Library (Mockingbird Branch) | 1326 North Mockingbird Lane | Not offered | 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. | Not offered |
| 79603 | Faith Works of Abilene | 1229 North Mockingbird Lane | Not offered | 12:00 – 12:30 p.m. | Not offered |
| 79603 | Love & Care Ministries | 233 Fannin Street | 7:00 – 8:30 a.m., Monday – Thursday | 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m., Monday – Thursday | Not offered |
| 79603 | Mobile Market Meal Site (Ortiz Elementary) | 2550 Vogel Street | Not offered | 11:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. | Not offered |
| 79603 | Mobile Market Meal Site (Mann Middle) | 2545 Mimosa Street | Not offered | 12:15 – 12:45 p.m. | Not offered |
| 79605 | All For One Missions | 650 Corsicana | Not offered | 11:45 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. | Not offered |
| 79605 | Southern Hills Church of Christ | 3666 Buffalo Gap Road | Not offered | 12:00 – 1:00 p.m., Monday – Friday | Not offered |
All ages welcomed. Dates of service: July 29; August 1-5; August 8-12.
Almanza also runs a local food pantry where demand for its services has gone up in recent weeks – she attributes the uptick to the rising costs of gas and other commodities.
“In the last month, our numbers have gone up just providing food for families that need it,” said Almanza.
The coalition’s meal program begins July 29. Almanza and her team want to spread the word in the coming weeks, ready to help families stay fed this summer.
“It’s vital that these families have a way to provide for their kid,” said Almanza.
The Abilene Big Country Hunger Coalition is seeking volunteers and sponsors for its program to begin in July. Click here to email the coalition for information and volunteer opportunities. You can also access its website here.
