Cy-Fair Helping Hands Food Pantry Serves Community During Pandemic

Story and photos by Patricia Hudson

Intended to slow the spread of the Coronavirus, the Harris County

Stay Home, Stay Safe directive exempted the Cy-Fair Helping Hands Community Food Pantry as providers for economically disadvantaged.

Challenges

The Coronavirus pandemic and the subsequent emotional and economic backlash has affected efforts to serve the needy in our community. As a direct result of the mass hysteria produced by t he v irus, partnering food agency donations are at an all-time low. With the closures of schools, churches, and community businesses, sources for non-perishable 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 m any of our volunteers to remain at home. 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.

In spite of these issues, the Cy-Fair Helping Hands Community Food Pantry has maintained regular hours. Appropriate precautions are taken to sanitize surfaces several times daily, donning gloves and masks, and by practicing social distancing. Food is distributed through a curbside drivethru; clients are instructed to remain in their cars and pop their trunks, while volunteers place boxes of nonp erishables, bakery goods, produce, meat, and prepared refrigerated foods into their cars. In the days since the Stay Home directive was passed, CFHH has seen an exponential increase in the number

of families served daily. Peak days have seen record numbers of 180, 200, and 210 cars lined up outside our door, seeking food to feed struggling families. To date, Cy-Fair Help ing H ands has provided food for 4,000 families, most new to us, and from as far away as Pearland, during the Covid-19 pandemic. The phone does 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. Churches and businesses have provided enough volunteers to run the pantry and drive-thru food d istribution daily. Compassion Bags and sack lunches for our homeless clients are delivered monthly, while ripe bananas become treats of banana bread and muffins. A neighboring

church welcomed our Houston Food Bank Mobile Food Pantry event in their parking lot on two occasions, enabling CFHH to provide food for over 900 families. After seeing the emptying shelves in our pantry, community members have connected with family and friends to hold remote food drives. CFISD Community Youth Services (CYS) and Berry Center Food Services workers have stepped in to volu nteer. P op-ups have been loaned to shield volunteers from the elements. New volunteers have returned day after day, offering to serve in whatever capacity they are needed. Our volunteer staff has doggedly and passionately handled the needs of a growing client base. In recognition of our effort to serve, 100+ Women Who Care Cy-Fair recently honored CFHH as their Charity Award Recipients for the second quarter .

Partnering to Provide

We are fortunate that there has been an occasional windfall of food from partnering community agencies; three pallets of bread from one grocery store and weekly calls for produce pick-ups from another has helped to increase our food distribution. CFISD generously offered a bounty of yogurt, sausage crumbles, pepperoni and bagged chips, food that can no longer be used for CFISD events, w elcome additions to bags of food for families in need. Thankfully, Cy-Fair Helping Hands partners with the Houston Food Bank. Disaster Relief boxes of nonperishables, some produce and prepared items are delivered monthly to supplement our pantry. Cy-Fair Helping Hands is located at 7520 Cherry Park Drive Suite B, Houston, TX 77095.

Days of Operation: Mon., Tues., Thurs., 1st/3rd Saturday. Times: 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. For more information, go to our Facebook page, Cy-Fair Helping Hands and to our website: www.cyfairhelpinghands.org To Donate funds, mail to: 7710 Cherry Park Drive, #T-385, Houston, TX 77095 Or go to our website: www.cyfairhelpinghands.org To Donate Food: Go to our Cy-Fair Helping Hands Facebook page for a current list of needs.