Here are all the ways Houston nonprofits are offering food for SNAP recipients, federal employees | Houston Public Media

As the federal government shutdown extends past the previous record, Houston-area nonprofits are holding food drives and other services for Texans who haven’t received paychecks or SNAP benefits.

A federal judge ruled Thursday that the Trump administration must fully fund the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) by Friday, but the U.S. Supreme Court temporarily blocked that court order Friday night. So it’s unclear how soon the 3.5 million SNAP recipients in Texas, and the 42 million across the country, will receive their benefits.

“If we go another week, then that’ll be two full paychecks, plus a partial paycheck, that will be missing by the federal employees,” said Brian Greene, president and CEO of the Houston Food Bank. “And, of course, the SNAP households stopped having their cards reloaded on the first [of November], and every day that goes by is an additional 15,000 Houston-area households that will not have their cards reloaded. It’s going to get worse as we go on.”

Here is a list of the Houston Food Bank’s food distribution events scheduled for the rest of November. Further below is a rundown of how Houston-area residents can help with food or monetary donations.

Nov. 7

• Hearts and Hands Baytown, 8 a.m.-noon

Nov. 8

• Houston ISD’s Hattie Mae White Educational Support Center, 8 a.m.-noon
• Northwest Assistance Ministries, 8 a.m.-1 p.m.
• Catholic Charities—Richmond, 9:30 a.m.-1 p.m.

Nov. 10

• West Houston Assistance Ministries, 9 a.m.-noon

Nov. 11

• Bethel’s Heavenly Hands, 8 a.m.-1 p.m.

Nov. 13

• Community of Faith Church, 3-7 p.m.

Nov. 14

• Hearts and Hands Baytown, 8 a.m.-1 p.m.

Nov. 15

• Northwest Assistance Ministries, 8 a.m.-1 p.m.
• Catholic Charities—Richmond, 9:30 a.m.-1 p.m.

Nov. 17

• West Houston Assistance Ministries, 8 a.m.-noon

Nov. 18

• Bethel’s Heavenly Hands, 8 a.m.-1 p.m.

Nov. 20

• Community of Faith Church, 3-7 p.m.

Nov. 21

• Hearts and Hands Baytown, 8 a.m.-1 p.m.

Nov. 22

• Northwest Assistance Ministries, 8 a.m.-1 p.m.

Nov. 24

• West Houston Assistance Ministries, 8 a.m.-noon

Nov. 29

• Catholic Charities—Richmond, 9:30 a.m.-1 p.m.

Food donation drives

The YMCA of Greater Houston hosts weekly food drives in different parts of southeast Texas. Their drives take place at Willow Creek Apartments in Houston on Monday and Tuesday from 9 a.m.-1 p.m.; Tellepsen Family Downtown YMCA in Houston on Tuesday and Thursday from 9 a.m.-1 p.m.; and Mission Woods Pantry in Spring on Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

The Heights Interfaith Ministries Food Pantry hosts food drives on Thursdays from 4-6 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m.-noon at their location next to Travis Elementary School.

How you can help

These organizations are also asking for assistance from the community to help provide food.

Houston Food Bank is taking donations, both monetary and in food, on its website, saying $1 provides enough food for three meals.

Catholic Charities is asking for food donations, which can be dropped off at its offices in Houston, Fort Bend County or Galveston. They’re also asking for volunteers to sort, bag and distribute food or to consider organizing a food drive.

Earlier this week, the Spring Branch chapter of Veterans of Foreign Wars announced a food drive for military service members in Fort Hood. The drive continues through Friday evening, and the food donations will be brought to Fort Hood on Saturday.