'Be a light in this community': Nonprofit taking to the streets to combat food insecurity
AUSTIN (KXAN) — To combat food insecurity in Williamson County, a local nonprofit is taking to the streets for its inaugural fundraising event Saturday in Georgetown — the Jubilee Mobile Food Pantry Prayer Walk/5K.
The event starts at 7:30 a.m. at 521 E. Morrow St. in Georgetown, according to the nonprofit Restoring God's Family Network (RGF).
Around 77,000 residents, or 12.6% of the population, are experiencing food insecurity in Williamson County, the nonprofit said in a news release.
"With limited transportation options and recent reductions in food assistance programs, many rural families are left without reliable access to nutritious food. The mobile pantry will help bridge this gap, bringing healthy options directly to underserved neighborhoods," the nonprofit said.
Jamila Siller, engagement director for RGF, said their goal is to help low and middle-income families experiencing homelessness or food insecurity.
"Our founders, back in 2015, actually were unhoused themselves, and during that time, they realized that there weren't a whole lot of resources out there for families that were needing help that suddenly experienced a change in financial situation," Siller told KXAN Thursday.
This has since become a mission that is "near and dear" to the founders' hearts, she said.
Siller said food pantries that already exist are located along Interstate 35 or U.S. Highway 183.
"Williamson County is extremely rural, and there's a lot of areas that don't have access to public transportation or just any ability to get to grocery stores or any of these food pantries. So our goal is to meet people exactly where they are. We want to go out there, create a sense of community and feed people healthy and nutritious food," she said.
Siller reiterated how important it is to offer healthy food options, especially for children who are not getting free meals at school during the summer.
"There's rises in obesity, dietary problems, and so we want to be able to offer those resources," she said.
The event on Saturday will be an opportunity for the nonprofit to say some inspirational words, worship and pray for the community, Siller said.
"So, we are firm believers that Jesus is the perfect example of servant leadership, and it is our responsibility to be the hands and feet of Jesus as we live in this world. And so we want a service that is open to absolutely everyone, regardless of race, gender, religious affiliation. We believe that it's our responsibility, it's our duty, and that's what God is calling us to do — is to be a light in this community," she said.