PBS.
JOHN: ACROSS THE UNITED STATES, OBSERVINGLY HIGH FOOD PRICES ARE COMPLICATING THE PROBLEM OF HUNGER AND FOOD SHORTAGES.
PEOPLE ARE FACING DIFFICULT DECISIONS TO EXPAND THEIR BUDGETS TO COVER BASICS LIKE HOUSING AND CHILD CARE.
BLAIR WALTMAN AND ISADORA DAY SEE HOW RESIDENTS OF A COMMUNITY ARE HELPING NEIGHBORS IN NEED.
>> IT'S HOT.
>> VERY TIRED.
>> YES.
>> I RUN EVERYTHING AS A VOLUNTEER FOR THE FIRST EIGHT YEARS.
AND WE ARE VERY, VERY BUSY.
SO NOW THIS IS ACTUALLY MY FULL TIME JOB.
I'm David Horning.
I AM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF IMPACT NOW DOVE SPRINGS.
WE ARE THE ONLY FOOD DISTRIBUTION I KNOW IN DOVE SPRINGS THAT IS LIKE A PERMANENT LOCATION.
I'M HERE SIX DAYS A WEEK.
ON TUESDAY MORNINGS, WE PACK ALL OF OUR TRUSTED FOODS.
So we pack cans, we pack rice, we pack beans.
AND USUALLY WE PACK ABOUT 220 BAGS.
ON FRIDAYS WE COLLECT ABOUT 7,000 POUNDS OF FOOD FROM THE FOOD BANK.
ON SATURDAY MORNING WE ARRIVED AT 7:45, WE PACKED ALL OUR FRESH AND FROZEN FOODS.
>> TWO IN THE BACK SEAT, GUYS?
>> AND THEN AT 9:00 AM WE OPENED AND STARTED DISTRIBUTING.
>> HOW MANY FAMILIES?
four, three?
>> EVERYONE'S FAMILY.
DAVID: FOR A LONG TIME, I WOULD SAY PROBABLY FIVE OR SIX YEARS, WE SERVED AN AVERAGE OF 50 FAMILIES A WEEK.
TEN YEARS LATER, WE SERVE ABOUT 220 FAMILIES A WEEK.
I feel the rising price of issues has introduced us an increasing number of households.
>> [TRANSLATED] IT CONTRIBUTES A LOT TO OUR HOUSE.
IT'S A LITTLE, AS WE SAY IN VENEZUELA, A LITTLE GIVES.
SO THIS IS SOMETHING THAT KEEPS US DOING FORWARD.
BECAUSE, I imply, THE LITTLE MONEY THAT COMES TO OUR HOUSE IS NOT ENOUGH.
DAVID: YOU DEFINITELY HEAR A LOT OF STORIES OF FAMILIES THAT STRUGGLE TO BUY FOOD.
>> TEXAS IS NOW THE SECOND STATE IN THE COUNTRY WITH HIGHEST FOOD INSECURITY.
WE ARE NOT ISOLATED FROM THE COSTS OTHER PEOPLE ARE ALSO EXPERIENCED.
WE SPEND ABOUT 1.1 MILLION DOLLARS A MONTH TO BUY FOOD, WHICH IS REALLY NOT SUSTAINABLE.
UNFORTUNATELY WE HOPE THIS CONTINUES.
LAST YEAR, WE ESTIMATED THAT ABOUT 178,000 PEOPLE WERE FOOD INSECURITY.
AND THIS YEAR, WE EXPECT ABOUT 208,000.
AND THAT'S JUST IN TRAVIS COUNTY.
DAVID: I FEEL LIKE THINGS ARE GOING TO CONTINUE INCREASE.
I HAVE NOT SEEN IT STOP YET.
BUT GIVING THEM FOOD TO HELP FEED THEIR FAMILIES IS WHAT KEEPS ME GOING FORWARD.
>> YES, I KNOW WHO YOU ARE.
DAVID: THE PEOPLE WE SERVE ARE JUST NORMAL PEOPLE.
THEY HAVE CHILDREN, THEY HAVE FAMILIES, THEY HAVE LOVED ONES.
THEY JUST WANT TO EAT AND BE HEALTHY.
AND MANY OF THEM ALSO WANT TO CONTRIBUTE.
>> I AM A GREAT STACKER.
DAVID: I WOULD PROBABLY SAY 70% OF THE VOLUNTEERS WE HAVE WERE PREVIOUSLY IN THE LINE.
They realized there was a necessity for assist, in order that they supplied to assist.
THEY MAY STILL RECEIVE FOOD FROM US, BUT THEY WANTED TO DO MORE FOR THEMSELVES.
WE LOVE DOVE SPRINGS AND WE LOVE HELPING PEOPLE.
Good morning, Maria.
IT'S GOING GOOD. HOW ARE YOU?