September is Hunger Awareness Month: Help Feed Bastrop County’s Children

Every child deserves to grow up with the nutrition they need to learn, thrive, and dream big. But here in Bastrop County—and across the nation—childhood hunger remains a crisis. As we observe Hunger Awareness Month this September and Hunger Action Day on September 9th, we invite you to join us in taking action.

CHILDHOOD HUNGER

Hunger isn’t just about missing meals—it’s about missing opportunities. Poor nutrition in children leads to increased risk of chronic illness, mental health challenges, academic struggles, and higher dropout rates (Feeding America, 2023).

Across the United States:

  •  Nearly 14 million children faced hunger in 2023.
  • 1 in 5 children is unsure where their next meal will come from (USDA).
  • Families with children are more likely to face hunger due to high costs of childcare, housing, and school-related expenses.
  • Black and Latino children are nearly twice as likely to experience hunger due to systemic racial inequities.
  •  Single-parent households are hit hardest—in 2023, 1 in 3 households led by single moms, and 1 in 4 led by single dads, faced food insecurity.

These national statistics are mirrored right here in Bastrop County, where the crisis is intensified by rural challenges—limited transportation, fewer job opportunities, and less access to affordable groceries.

In Bastrop County, 1 in 4 children face hunger. Many schools report 70% or more of their students live below the poverty line. During the week, free and reduced-cost meals help students stay fed—but weekends are a different story. That’s where we come in.

NIBBLES PROGRAM 

Our NIBBLES Program (Nutrition in Backpacks Before Little Ones Exit School) provides weekend meals and snacks to 272 students from low-income families at:

  • Lost Pines Elementary
  • Mina Elementary
  • Red Rock Elementary
  • Emile Elementary
  • Bluebonnet Elementary
  • El Camino Real Academy
  • Riverside Middle School

These children take home food each Friday to help them stay nourished until Monday. But the need is far greater—and we’re only scratching the surface. You can make a difference!

HOW YOU CAN HELP!

  • Your support provides critical weekend meals for the children who need them most. Just $8 can feed a child for an entire weekend. Donate to NIBBLES Today
  • Go ORANGE on Hunger Action Day – Monday, September 9th!
  • Wear orange to raise awareness
  • Get your business, church, or school involved—decorate, share online, and start conversations
  • Tag us and use hashtags: #NIBBLESFeedsKids #HungerActionDay #BastropFightsHunger

Let’s turn Bastrop County orange to raise awareness of food insecurity in Bastrop County.