HOUSTON – Rising grocery costs can have a significant impact on many families, especially those already living paycheck to paycheck. As food prices continue to increase, it becomes harder for people to afford necessities and maintain a healthy diet.
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One organization is stepping up to help more than 100 Asian and immigrant families in the Houston area who are limited English speaking.
Woori Juntos, in collaboration with Second Servings, is having a Community Pop-Up Food & Resource Distribution on Thursday from 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. at 1809 Hollister Street.
The event aims to:
1. Provide free fresh produce and assorted groceries to individuals and families facing food insecurity, especially those from Asian and immigrant backgrounds.
2. Offer valuable resources and information on accessing food assistance programs, addressing language barriers, and navigating the complexities of food insecurity.
3. Raise awareness about the inequalities and challenges associated with food insecurity within Asian and immigrant communities.
4. Foster community engagement and networking opportunities to strengthen support systems and resilience among community members.
This initiative holds significant importance in addressing the inequalities surrounding food insecurity.
According to recent research published in PLOS ONE, food insecurity is a pressing issue affecting many Asian Americans and immigrant populations across the country. Limited access to nutritionally adequate and safe foods, coupled with challenges in acquiring acceptable foods in socially acceptable ways, has disproportionately impacted these communities. Factors such as high rates of unemployment, limited job opportunities, and language barriers have contributed to the heightened vulnerability of Asian and immigrant individuals and families to food insecurity.
MORE STORIES ABOUT FOOD INSECURITY
KPRC2′s Re’Chelle Turner will be speaking to families at the event and reviewing data for the cost of groceries.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics says the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers increased 8.3 percent for the year ended August 2022. Over that period, prices for food at home increased 13.5 percent, the largest 12-month percentage increase since the period ending March 1979. Prices for food away from home increased 8.0 percent for the year ended August 2022, the largest over-the-year percentage increase since an 8.4-percent increase in October 1981.
USDA says food prices increased by 9.9 percent in 2022, faster than any year since 1979.