Robert Gager News Today

A federal government shutdown expected to begin Sunday would close the Waco Regional Veterans Affairs Office to the public and cause Waco Regional Airport security officers and air traffic controllers

For years, Shepherd's Heart has hosted a mobile food pantry at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Bellmead, and they've decided to make it a permanent location.

It's been just one month since the pandemic-era SNAP benefits have come to an end and already overwhelmed food banks in the area say they are assisting an unprecedented number of people.

Donations to organizations like Mission Waco and Shepherd's Heart keep dollars local and allows neighbors to help each other through tough times.

Mclennan County sees more people in need of assistance with food, toys, clothing and more. Local pantries help out.

The number of people visiting food pantries had increased at the start of the pandemic, and inflation has caused those numbers to once again skyrocket.

Shepherd's Heart food pantry serves thousands of Central Texans each year. Now they are expanding their mission to help friends in Ukraine.

There's a sign on the wall at The Shepherd's Heart that reads "Sometimes you need a helping hand." For twelve years, the pantry has been that helping hand for so many hungry families in the Waco area.

Trips to the grocery store have gotten more expensive in recent months. For nonprofits, struggling over that pricier purchase is not just crying over spilled milk.

According to a new report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, food insecurity at the national level remained unchanged between 2019 and 2020. In Central Texas, though, it's a different story. One in eight Texan households had trouble putting food on the table in 2020.