Winter storm Uri took us all by surprise. No matter how well you may have prepared, no one was expecting to be left without electricity for days or have their homes flooded after having pipes burst. And to still have millions of households without access to clean drinking water is a problem in and of itself. We have received calls from people in need of just a meal because they cannot find food or water at their local grocery stores. I know many of our team members were displaced and have or still are, experiencing damage to homes and a boil notice. BUT we are so happy that everyone is safe and well, all things considered, and continue to make it a priority to serve our neighbors.
Minnie's Food Pantry has responded to disasters before, from sending truckloads of food and supplies to Houston, TX after Hurricane Harvey in 2017 to ensuring government workers were provided for during the government shut down of 2018-2019. Since March of 2020, Minnie's Food Pantry has remained a leading force in the fight against hunger, expanding distributions and serving over 218,000 individuals during the COVID-19 pandemic. As families continue to recover from winter storm Uri, Minnie's Food Pantry will be available to ensure that no family goes without basic life necessities such as food and water.
Before winter storm Uri caused so much damage to households across Texas, Minnie's Food Pantry was serving anywhere between 200-300 families each day that we were open. We know the need has grown over the last week alone.
We have scheduled two deliveries of food to local schools, four deliveries of food to senior citizens' facilities, and are hosting distribution dates to feed the hungry. We will remain on the front lines long after the news stops discussing this tragedy.
Our trucks have been traveling the roads to local hotels, taking food, water, and toiletries to hundreds of families who have been displaced since last week providing each with food and water, as supplies allow.
As temperatures begin to rise and streets start to open up for safe travel, Minnie's Food Pantry is preparing our Boots on the Ground campaign to respond to the need of our neighbors. Food, water, and fuel assistance are among some of the immediate needs of our community.
