BEAUMONT, Texas — Food insecurity continues to be a major challenge across Southeast Texas. With the holiday season upon us, 12News and the Southeast Texas Food Bank are teaming up once again for the 30th Annual Share Your Christmas initiative to provide crucial assistance to those in need.
Share Your Christmas aims to surpass last year’s record-breaking effort and provide hundreds of thousands of meals to local families.
RELATED: 'Share Your Christmas' during 12News' 30th annual food drive and help your fellow Southeast Texans
Donations from the community made a tremendous impact in 2023, helping the Southeast Texas Food Bank serve more than 456,000 meals.
"We can provide three meals with a dollar because of our ability to source those items," said Sparks.
"This is our largest food and fund drive of the year and it means a lot to us at the end of the year," said Jimmy Sparks, Chief Administrative Officer of the Southeast Texas Food Bank.
In 2023, the Share Your Christmas campaign raised an impressive $152,000. Additionally, 30,000 pounds of non-perishable food were collected to feed families in need.
"Last year it was a $152,000, which was a record for us," Sparks said.
This year, Sparks and the food bank are hoping to exceed those numbers.
"Let's shoot for $160,000, so I think we can do it," he said.
There are several ways to contribute to this year’s Share Your Christmas initiative:
Donate Online: Visit the 12NewsNow website to make a monetary donation.
Market Basket Locations: Drop off food or donate cash at any of the 11 participating Market Basket stores across Southeast Texas.
Food Donations: Items such as canned vegetables, proteins like peanut butter and pouched tuna and canned meats like chili are especially needed. Drop-off bins are available at Market Basket locations.
You can also donate food items that you already have at home.
"Any kind of canned vegetables, green beans, corn, diced carrots sliced pears. Any kind of proteins are always good, peanut butter, chili, pouched tuna, pouched chicken. Those are always helpful for us," Sparks said.
Additionally, thanks to the partnership with Del Papa, every dollar donated through December 31 will be matched up to $50,000, according to Sparks.
Data from Feeding America shows why initiatives like Share Your Christmas are so important.
"Southeast Texas Food Bank, our food insecurity we rank the 11th worst for adult food insecurity of the 200 food banks. As far as childhood food insecurity we are tied for the worst of the 200 food banks in the United States," Sparks told 12News.
To learn more or to donate, simply text “SHARE” to 409-838-1212 for details on how to contribute online or find a participating Market Basket near you.
Together, let’s make this the most impactful Share Your Christmas yet and help Southeast Texans in need this holiday season.
