Cy-Fair Helping Hands Food Pantry Serves Community During Pandemic

Story and photos by Patricia Hudson

Editor’s Note: In addition to my journalistic endeavors as the Editor of PinPointe Magazine, I have another passion of which one may not be aware: I am also the Executive Director of Community Outreach for Cy-Fair Helping Hands. Together with Jean Dreyer, Executive Director of Homeless Initiatives, we serve the homeless and hungry. T he Harris County Stay Home, Stay Safe directive of March 24, 2020 is intended to slow the spread of Covid-19. As Providers of B asic Necessities to Economically Disadvantaged Populations, our community food pantry is identified as a business that provides food for economically disadvantaged or otherwise needy individuals. With our clients of foremost concern, it was a relief to learn of this exemption from the Stay Home, Stay Safe declaration. Challenges

The Coronavirus pandemic and the subsequent emotional and economic backlash has most decidedly affected our efforts to serve the needy in our community. As a direct result of the mass hysteria produced by the virus, partnering food agency donations are at an all-time low; some days, volunteers return, only to report that the store had nothing to donate. With the closures of schools, churches, and community businesses, our sources for nonp erishable food, toiletries, and other essential items have dwindled drastically. A faith-based ministry, CFHH is run entirely by volunteers, most of whom are of retirement age. Due to age, health issues, and childcare responsibilities, the Coronavirus pandemic has forced many of our volunteers to remain at home.

In spite of these issues, the Cy-Fair Helping Hands Community Food Pantry has maintained regular hours. We have taken appropriate precautions to keep everyone safe by sanitizing everything with bleach solution several times daily, donning gloves and masks, and by practicing social distancing. We have modified our distribution of food through a curbside drive-thru; clients are instructed to remain in their cars and pop their trunks, while our volunteers place boxes of nonperishables, bakery goods, produce, meat, and prepared refrigerated foods into their cars.

I n the days since the Stay Home directive was passed, we have seen an exponential increase, some days as many as quadruple the number of clients we normally see. On two consecutive days, a record number 88 cars lined up outside our door, clients seeking food to feed themselves and their families. In the span of 11 days, Cy-Fair Helping Hands has provided food for 708 clients and their families. The phone d oes not stop ringing, as those in need anxiously ask for assistance. Celebrations Amidst the challenges posed by Covid-19, there have been many bright spots for our community ministry. Community churches and businesses have provided enough volunteers to run our pantry and drive-thru food distribution daily. Gaily d ecorated bags with candy filled plastic Easter Eggs have been delivered by churches, groups and individuals for our client children. Community supporters have turned overripe ripe bananas into welcome treats of banana bread and muffins. A neighboring church has agreed to allow us to hold our Houston Food Bank Mobile Food Pantry event in their parking lot when our property manager declined permission. After s eeing the emptying shelves in our pantry, several individual supporters have connected with family and friends