The Problem
Being in the heart of Texas's Bell County, COME is privileged to serve a wide and diverse audience with various needs. We are based in Belton, TX, less than 25 miles away from Fort Hood. As such, our service area is home to the largest military veteran population in the United States. Our constituents come from all walks of life, including a range of war veterans, homeless citizens, victims of abuse, previous felons, students, food pantries, and shelters, all requiring different levels of help. We operate to help the underserved, the overlooked, the rejected, the outcasts, and anyone in between. According to the US last census, Bell County had a poverty rate of about 13.8%, which was considerably higher than the national average of 10.5%. Even worse, while the United States Department of Agriculture calculated the national rate of food insecure homes was 10.5 in 2019, Feeding Texas ™ currently reports that in Bell County, the percent of food insecure homes is at an alarming 21%, double that of the national average. Combating food insecurity during the midst of a global pandemic that has crippled economies and impeded many individuals from obtaining necessities has further complicated circumstances. We are only months removed from witnessing the highest unemployment rate the United States has ever seen at 14.7% and although that number has fallen in recent months, we are now looking at the worst inflation rate the nation has seen in decades. The loss of wages that our communities are currently experiencing, coupled with other negative factors and the preexisting causes of poverty and food insecurity, has only increased the need for help from those that we serve. The success of the Feed My Sheep program will see the effects of poverty and food insecurity alleviated, while also serving as a model that can be reproduced on a national stage.
