MIDLAND-ODESSA, Texas (KOSA) – Food pantries across West Texas are seeing increased demand as grocery costs remain high, with organizations reporting record food box distributions and a growing number of working families seeking assistance.
Demand outpacing last year’s numbers
Permian Basin Mission Center donated 7,652 food boxes in all of last year. By the midpoint of this year, the organization had already distributed 4,450 boxes.
Hank Herrick, executive director of Permian Basin Mission Center, said the cost of groceries is at the center of the issue.
“I just did a presentation not long ago to a funder and pulled out a grocery cart with groceries and said this is the most expensive vehicle in the Permian Basin — is groceries, that grocery cart,” Herrick said.
Herrick said the people seeking help are not limited to the unemployed.
“We see people who are working, sometimes mother and father are working and they still can’t keep up with the pace of inflation and the gas prices and everything that’s going up — utilities,” Herrick said.
Libby Stephens, CEO of West Texas Food Bank, said demand is also driven by the time of year.
“We’re definitely seeing more people come in. It’s also the summer months — you know, kids are out of school — so that definitely affects how much people are needing extra food in their homes. They don’t have breakfast and lunch at school,” Stephens said.
The higher costs are also affecting the food banks themselves. Herrick said the Mission Center primarily receives food from West Texas Food Bank, which is purchasing more food than it ever has to supply its locations and distributors.
West Texas Food Bank delivers food across 19 counties to more than 100 partner agencies, with fuel costs adding to the financial burden.
Both organizations said community support is more important than ever. Those seeking assistance or wishing to donate can find information about both organizations online.
Copyright 2026 KOSA. All rights reserved.
Dining and Cooking