BEAUMONT, Texas — A Southeast Texas food pantry is getting new walk-in freezer thanks to some help from a local foundation.
Work began this week on the walk-in freezer at Market to HOPE, a "client choice food pantry" in Beaumont.
Families and individuals who are clients of Market to HOPE are able to select their own food items that are "most appropriate for their ethnic preferences and dietary restrictions, thereby honoring each person's dignity."
Funds from the Mildred Yount Manion Foundation, which is a Beaumont based foundation, provided the funds to complete what the market has dubbed "Mildred's Freezer."
Market to HOPE is a partner of the Southeast Texas Food Bank and works to reduce food insecurity by providing supplemental food.
The "HOPE" in the market's name stands for "Help Other People Eat."
Market to HOPE, which is located at 3370 Sarah St in Beaumont, offers fresh fruits and vegetables to encourage healthier food choices.
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has defined "food insecurity" as a state in which "consistent access to adequate food is limited by a lack of money and other resources."
Map the Meal Gap, a study conducted by Feeding America, estimated the percentage of residents and number of individuals who are living in food-insecure households in 2020.
For the counties in the Diocese of Beaumont the data is as follows...
- Chambers County: 14.5% of the population or 6,170 individuals
- Hardin County: 16.1% of the population or 9,120 individuals
- Jasper County: 19.6% of the population or 6,970 individuals
- Jefferson County: 18.2% of the population or 46,070 individuals
- Liberty County: 16.7% of the population or 14,420 individuals
- Newton County: 20.8% of the population or 2,860 individuals
- Orange County: 17.0% of the population or 14,220 individuals
- Polk County: 18.2% of the population or 9,150 individuals
- Tyler County: 19.7% of the population or 4,240 individuals
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This is a developing story. We will update with more if and when we receive more confirmed information.
