The State of Hunger in Brazoria County
August 3, 2026
Understanding the latest data and what it means for our neighbors.
Every day at Brazosport Cares, we meet people whose stories challenge the stereotypes of hunger.
We meet parents who skip meals so their children can eat. Seniors stretching a fixed income between groceries and medication. College students working multiple jobs. Families with steady paychecks who never imagined they'd need to ask for help.
These aren't isolated stories. They're part of a growing reality in our community.
Each year, Feeding America's Map the Meal Gap study provides the most comprehensive look at food insecurity across the country. While statistics can never tell the whole story, they help us better understand the scope of the challenge and the people behind the numbers.
The latest data confirms what we see every day at Brazosport Cares: hunger continues to affect thousands of our neighbors.
What the Latest data tells us
The newest Map the Meal Gap study estimates that 56,890 people in Brazoria County are experiencing food insecurity. That’s 14.5% of our population. That's nearly one in seven of our neighbors who don't always have reliable access to enough nutritious food.
Collectively, households experiencing food insecurity face an estimated $35.9 million annual food budget shortfall. In simple terms, that's the amount of money families across Brazoria County would need, together, to purchase the food they need but cannot afford.
One finding stands out above all the others: 62% of people experiencing food insecurity have incomes above the SNAP eligibility threshold. Many are working families who simply earn too much to qualify for assistance but not enough to keep pace with today's cost of living. Hunger is no longer just a problem of unemployment or poverty. It increasingly affects households caught in the gap between rising costs and limited resources.
At Brazosport Cares, we believe that solving hunger begins with understanding it. That's why we're committed not only to feeding our neighbors, but also to educating our community and advocating for solutions that address the root causes of food insecurity.
the bigger picture
Texas continues to face one of the largest hunger crises in the nation.
According to Feeding America's newest Map the Meal Gap study:
More than 6 million Texans are food insecure.
Nearly 1 in 5 Texans (19.4%) experiences food insecurity.
Texas has the highest total number of food-insecure people of any state in the nation.
While those numbers are staggering, they also remind us that local organizations like Brazosport Cares are more important than ever.
hunger facts everyone should know
Hunger isn't always visible.
Many people experiencing food insecurity are working adults, seniors living on fixed incomes, veterans, or families with children. The face of hunger isn’t always recognizable at first glance.
Food insecurity is about more than being hungry.
Food insecurity means not having reliable access to enough nutritious food to live a healthy life.
Some families are sporadically food-insecure, meaning they may have enough food one week, but not the next.
Others skip meals, purchase less nutritious food, or worry constantly about running out before payday.
Many families don't qualify for assistance.
One of the biggest misconceptions is that anyone struggling with hunger receives government assistance.
In reality, many working families earn just enough to be ineligible for SNAP while still being unable to keep up with rising housing, healthcare, childcare, transportation, and grocery costs.
This is often called the benefits cliff, where a small increase in income can lead to the loss of public benefits before a family has achieved financial stability.
Hunger affects every part of our community.
Children who are hungry struggle to learn.
Older adults may skip meals so they can afford medication.
Parents often eat less so their children can eat more.
Hunger impacts health, education, employment, and overall quality of life.
Food insecurity is rising even among working families.
Having a job doesn't guarantee food security.
Many households experiencing hunger include at least one employed adult. Rising costs have outpaced wages for many families, making difficult choices between groceries and other basic necessities increasingly common.
What Brazosport Cares Is Doing
At Brazosport Cares, we believe addressing hunger requires more than simply providing food. We work to meet immediate needs while addressing the underlying causes of food insecurity.
Whether through our Food4Today pantry, Food4Kids programs, HOPE senior deliveries, school markets, nutrition education, or community partnerships, we're committed to ensuring every neighbor has reliable access to nutritious food.
But ending hunger isn't something any one organization can do alone.
It requires a coordinated effort from our entire community.
Visit our Impact Report page to learn more about what we’re doing in the community together.
how you can help
Whether you donate your time or funds, advocate for our neighbors, host a food drive, or simply talk to others about the realities of hunger, you’re helping build a stronger, healthier Brazoria County.
