The report—conducted from June 2024 to January and completed in partnership with the Bastrop County Cares Nourish Coalition—provides a deeper understanding of the challenges and opportunities Bastrop County residents face, Norma Mercado, executive director of Bastrop County Cares, told Community Impact.
The framework
There were five methodologies the Bastrop County Food Access CNA relied on, including:
- Community profiles
- Community discussions
- Stakeholder interviews
- Neighbor surveys
- Focus groups
In Bastrop County, where the average household spending on food is $9,200, 15.4% residents experience food insecurity, 11.9% are below the poverty level, and 6.2% receive SNAP benefits, according to the report.
With 15,168 Bastrop County residents experiencing food insecurity, of which more than 5,000 are children, nearly 20 charitable food providers in Bastrop County have launched initiatives, including food pantries, senior and children’s programs, meal sites, mobile pantries and home deliveries.
“Each month, over 13,000 unique neighbors access charitable food programs in Bastrop County,” according to the Bastrop County Food Access CNA. “Many visit food pantries and meal sites multiple times throughout the month, resulting in approximately 21,000 total assistances.”
Although a majority of these clients live in urban centers across Bastrop County, many also reside in rural communities or travel from nearby counties, such as Lee County.
Zooming in
Central Texas Food Bank officials highlighted populations that have been most negatively impacted by rising food prices and costs of living, population growth, gentrification and displacement, and poverty income volatility.
“Despite recent demographic shifts, including Bastrop becoming a ‘majority-minority’ county for the first time in 2021, unequal outcomes persist,” according to the Bastrop County Food Access CNA. “Food insecurity is most concentrated in predominantly Hispanic communities on the county’s westside, with the highest rates of food insecurity in Stony Point, Cedar Creek and Elgin.”
A county becomes a majority-minority when racial or ethnic minorities make up more than half of the total population.
What are the options?
The report listed several strategic opportunities to strengthen food access in Bastrop County, including:
- Engaging policymakers through advocacy and education
- Coordinating and investing in infrastructure
- Activating local and regional food system planning
- Strengthening local food partnerships
- Expanding community-based outreach strategies
BCEFP provided 5,460 individuals with 487,932 pounds of food in 2024 and 5,609 individuals with 446,859 pounds of food in 2023, according to annual report documents from BCEFP.
Reduced federal assistance through the U.S. Department of Agriculture has also affected operations, BCEFP officials said.
The Central Texas Food Bank, which previously supplied up to 45% of the food on the shelves at BCEFP, lost $5.5 million in funding. The impact is approximately 761,000 fewer meals being delivered to the Central Texas Food Bank, according to officials.
“This year is the third year in a row of high levels of need,” Kelly Manfredini, director of marketing and communications for BCEFP, told Community Impact in an email June 19. “If more social safety net programs are cut, we anticipate that our numbers will rise even further. For the last few months, we have been distributing 40,000-plus pounds of food through our various programs.”
Lend a hand
Area residents can make monetary donations to BCEFP online, in-person at their service center at 806 Fayette St., or by mail to P.O. Box 953 Bastrop, TX 78602.
Donations of nonperishable, canned and dried foods items, cooking oil and hygiene items also are needed, including:
- Canned meats
- Canned vegetables
- Canned fruit
- Corn bread mix
- Juices
- Assorted crackers
- Rice
- Peanut butter, jelly
- Dry beans
- Sugar
- Cereal
- Instant potatoes
- Flour
- Pasta and spaghetti sauces
- Canned beans
- Soups
- Hygiene items
- Tomato sauces
- Cooking oil
