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- calendar_today October 20, 2026
Annual Food Drive Begins with Student Participation
The 46th annual ABC13 Share Your Holidays Food Drive has officially launched in Houston, with journalism students from Prairie View A&M University, Texas Southern University, and the University of Houston participating in the kickoff. The event, which supports the Houston Food Bank, aims to combat food insecurity and encourages communities across southeast Texas to get involved.
How to Contribute to the Food Drive
Donations to the 2026 Share Your Holidays Food Drive can be made in several ways. Community members can donate by texting 'SYH2026' to 71777, giving online, or scanning the QR code that appears during Eyewitness News newscasts. The campaign runs through December 1, 2026, coinciding with Giving Tuesday, and encourages both food and monetary donations.
Most-Needed Food Items
The Houston Food Bank is particularly seeking shelf-stable snacks, such as granola bars, crackers, trail mix, nuts, and dried fruits. Additional high-priority items include canned goods—meats, fruits, vegetables, pastas, beans, and soups, preferably with low sodium and pull-top lids. Drinks like water, sports drinks, shelf-stable milk, and shelf-stable juice with low sugar are also welcomed. Open packages, homemade foods, perishable items, clothing, and tobacco products are not accepted.
Monetary Donations: Impact and Importance
Monetary donations make a tangible difference; the Houston Food Bank reports that $1 helps provide three meals. For example, a $10 donation can supply 30 meals to individuals facing hunger in the region. The campaign encourages contributions of any size to address the growing need for food assistance.
Food Drop-Off Locations and Schedule
On December 1, 2026, food donations can be dropped off at several locations throughout the Houston area. Collection sites and their operating hours include:
- Houston Food Bank: 535 Portwall St., Houston, TX (6 a.m.–6 p.m.)
- Baytown Fire and Rescue: 4723 Garth Rd., Baytown, TX (6 a.m.–2 p.m.)
- Galveston ISD Ball HS: 4115 Avenue O, Galveston, TX (8 a.m.–12 p.m.)
- Harris Co. ESD No. 48/Station 5: 21201 Morton Road, Katy, TX (8 a.m.–12 p.m.)
- The Ismaili Center (Montrose area): 2323 Allen Parkway, Houston, TX (8 a.m.–2 p.m.)
- Pearland Neighborhood Center: 2335 N Texas Ave, Pearland, TX (8 a.m.–3 p.m.)
- VFW Hall Post 3903 (Rosenberg): 1903 1st St., Rosenberg, TX (6 a.m.–2 p.m.)
- Ismaili Jamatkhana (Sugar Land): 1700 First Colony Blvd, Sugar Land, TX (8 a.m.–2 p.m.)
All donated food stays in local communities, benefiting residents in 18 southeast Texas counties through a network of 1,600 community partners.
Food Insecurity in Texas: A Growing Challenge
Food insecurity remains a pressing concern in Texas and the Houston area. As of July 2026, Feeding Texas reported that one in five Texans—over six million people—face food insecurity. The challenge is even more acute in certain communities and demographics: 53% of Black and 47% of Hispanic households in Harris County experience household food insecurity. Hispanic women, rural Texans, and many in areas like Aldine, Greenspoint, Pasadena, and Spring face a disproportionate burden.
Statewide, food insecurity rates increased from 17.6% to 19.4% in a single year, with children and seniors especially affected. Rice University's Kinder Institute for Urban Research found that two in five Houston households lack reliable access to nutritious food. Around one million people in southeast Texas alone are food insecure.
Past Successes and the Ongoing Mission
Generosity in previous years has had a significant impact. In 2025, the Share Your Holidays campaign provided over 1.1 million meals and raised more than $80,000, surpassing its $75,000 goal. Community partners, such as the Ismaili Council and locations in Galveston and Rosenberg, collected tens of thousands of pounds of food and received substantial sponsorship donations.
Since the inaugural drive in 1980, millions of cans of food have been collected. The Houston Food Bank distributed 143 million meals in Fiscal Year 2025, including 18 million to children through dedicated programs and 14 million through SNAP application assistance.
The Spirit of Giving Continues
The Share Your Holidays Food Drive has become a longstanding tradition in the Houston area, rooted in community involvement and support. Local journalism students' participation in the 2026 event underscores the importance of raising awareness and mobilizing action against food insecurity. As the need rises, organizers and participants alike hope to exceed previous records in providing essential support to neighbors in need.
Source: abc13.com.
