Community Food Pantry in Tool

It is our our mission to provide all the necessary support to empower our clients. Our Volunteers are caring individuals who are ready to reach out to assist them and discuss possible avenues of support. The Community Food Pantry in Tool extends a helping hand providing food and support for those in our community dealing with extraordinarily difficult and stressful life circumstances. We have helped them receive additional benefits through SNAP and other sources of community assistance. In addition, we assist with resume development and online applications in an effort to provide those in need with the tools necessary to provide support for themselves and their families.

In 2024, 17% of Henderson County residents are below the poverty level and suffer from food insecurity. In 2023 we served 1,201 families with 3,858 members and in 2024 we have increased to 1,376 families with 5,342 members. We purchased and distributed over 161,056 lbs. of canned goods, fruit, vegetables, and protein. We are experiencing an increase in new families who are unable to overcome the overwhelming price increases for groceries.

We continue to focus on being recognized as a Healthy Food Pantry. The food purchases we make are providing vegetables, fruits, and grains rather than bulky poor food choice provisions. The amount of food received is based on the number of clients in each household. Our desire is to expand the availability of healthy choice selections for our families.

We reinstated SNAP, TANF, Social Security, SSI and Medicaid assistance for our clients. In 2024, we assisted 312 clients in their efforts to receive state benefits from Texas Health & Human Services. We process requests for utility assistance and gas for medical appointments as well through the assistance of various agencies around the County.