Your Voice Matters
Join us in making change for better lives! Your voice has the power to shape policies that increase economic security which is what drives food insecurity. Click the button below to learn more and take action NOW. Together, we can build a world that doesn’t need food banks!
Use your voice, there are a lot of different ways to be involved.
Head to our ADVOCACY ACTION CENTER now to sign up and amplify your voice with elected officials.
How does Government Relations impact you?
The Government Relations department communicates the research and expertise of Houston Food Bank’s staff, partners, and those we serve with government officials to highlight and help address the systemic issues driving hunger and poverty. We communicate and educate the larger community to ask for action and support of policies that address poverty, a main factor in food insecurity.
What does the Government Relations team do?
ADVOCATE
We look for opportunities by building relationships with government and elected officials to highlight and address the main drivers of food insecurity – lack of economic mobility, housing insecurity, and lack of access to health care.
EDUCATE
We amplify the research, expertise, and experiences of our staff, partners, and neighbors and mobility communities to advocate for policies that are important to them.
FUNDRAISE
Our team identifies and pursues government funding opportunities to support the services and programs needed to help our communities.
COLLABORATE
As an emergency response organization, our team collaborates with emergency management offices and elected officials to understand and help the Houston Food Bank respond to the needs of the communities affected.
CIVIC ENGAGEMENT
Our team uplifts neighbors to actively participate in our democracy by engaging in civic activities. We collaborate with Food Bank partners and coalitions to implement voter engagement initiatives, ensuring that our community’s voices are heard.
Policy Roadmap
Why Food Insecurity Persists and How We Fix It:
Too many families cannot consistently afford enough nutritious food to sustain their health. Why? Because systems do not reward hard-working families or help them to be self-reliant in times of economic downturns. To create lasting change, private and public sectors need to help restore access to strong paychecks, affordable housing, and quality health care.
Without these changes, families and the churches, nonprofits, and other organizations who help them are caught in revolving doors as families are dependent on services and have to choose between paying for rent, medical care, and utilities over nutritious food.
These decisions come with consequences—declining health, lost economic opportunities, and dependence on government support rather than self-sufficiency.
The Systemic Gaps We Can Close Together:
Extensive research and analysis identified three core drivers of food security.
Photos of our Advocacy Work
Meet our Government Relations team
KATHERINE
The vision of A World That Doesn’t Need Food Banks drew me to working at the Houston Food Bank. Leading the Government Relations Department provides an opportunity to work on laws and regulations that keep families from succeeding. I love working alongside the communities the Houston Food Bank serves to help them step into their power and making sure elected officials have the right information to make good decisions about the people they serve.
CAROLINA
My passion for policy and advocacy stems from wanting to serve and uplift communities, and Houston Food Bank has provided me the opportunity to do both. We cannot end hunger, without addressing the root causes (financial instability, housing insecurity, etc.). Therefore, by collectively advocating for impactful policy changes, we can pave the way for ‘a world that doesn’t need food banks’. My commitment to this work will always be to work with and learn from internal teams, distribution partners, external stakeholders, and, crucially, our neighbors. Together, we will create a landscape where everyone is afforded the opportunity to thrive.
AUNJEL
Civic engagement is the lifeblood of a healthy community. The Houston Food Bank believes that everyone deserves access to nutritious food and works tirelessly to ensure that our neighbors have the resources they need to thrive. By engaging with our elected officials and neighbors, we can amplify our impact and create a more equitable food system for all. I’m passionate about empowering individuals to become advocates for change, and I invite you to join us in the fight against hunger.
MIRANDA
Every person has the ability to shape the future of their community. That belief fuels my passion for civic engagement, helping neighbors recognize the strength of their own voices and the impact they can make when they speak up for healthier communities and better futures. At Houston Food Bank, we view advocacy not just as a tool, but as a pathway to lasting change. By empowering individuals to raise their voices and act collectively, we help build stronger and more resilient communities where everyone belongs and every voice matters.