Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller has recently announced a crucial project to tackle food insecurity in Texas. The Texans Feeding Texans: Home-Delivered Meal Grant Program will open its application window on September 1st, 2024 and will remain open until November 1st, 2024. This program is aimed at providing home-delivered meals to those in need across the state.
The Texans Feeding Texans Home-Delivered Meal Grant Program goes beyond just providing food. Its goal is to offer care and establish connections with some of the most at-risk individuals in the state. The program will soon open its applications, providing vital financial assistance to meal service providers who offer at-home meal deliveries. This support ensures that Texans who are confined to their homes receive healthy and nourishing meals.
“I don’t want any Texan to go hungry. That’s inexcusable in a bountiful, plentiful, prosperous state like Texas. You know, it’s a shame that we have hungry people and we do.”
As a crucial component of the Texans Feeding Texans initiative, the Texans Feeding Texans program lends its support to governmental and nonprofit agencies alike. Through this program, local meal providers, counties, and the state work together in close collaboration to guarantee that no one in the community is left without access to food.
Commissioner Miller stated that the program is available to anyone in need, regardless of their race, creed, color, or age.
Commissioner Miller believes that the program not only enhances the quality of life, but also provides financial benefits.
According to him, staying in one’s own home not only saves taxpayers a considerable amount of money but also results in an improved quality of life, diet, and overall attitude. Institutionalizing individuals in nursing homes or adult care programs is far more expensive than allowing them to remain in the comfort of their homes.
Commissioner Miller takes pride in the program’s emphasis on supporting local agriculture by incorporating Texas-grown products. “We are dedicated to promoting Texas agriculture and utilizing local products in our school meals. Under my tenure, we have made significant progress in this area, going from not using any local products to feeding our children $300 million worth of locally grown products last year,” said Miller.
The Home-Delivered Meal Grant Program stands out from others due to its noncompetitive approach. Every applicant who meets the eligibility criteria will be granted an award based on their level of need.
To qualify for participation, organizations must secure a county grant. The Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) recommends applicants to begin working with their counties as early as possible due to the potentially lengthy grant process.
“There are some vulnerable Texans out there, but we’re here to help.”
The TDA has gone above and beyond just feeding the hungry. They have set up a hotline to provide Texans in need with a variety of services such as connecting them with food pantries, shelters, rent and utilities assistance, childcare, and more. This initiative showcases how the TDA is not only focused on providing immediate relief but also on addressing the underlying issues faced by the community.
Texans have the option to receive support by calling “211” at any time, every day of the year, 24/7.
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