According to LIFE Houston, Texas' only infant formula bank, 1 in 4 babies in Harris County suffers from infant hunger, and over 60% of LIFE Houston's clients are Hispanic families. That's why they are raising awareness for all of September with a first-time formula drive in partnership with the City of Houston.
ABC13's Rita Garcia will have the full story on Eyewitness News at 4 p.m.
LIFE Houston's CEO, Shawntell McWilliams, sat down with ABC13 morning anchor Rita Garcia and shared that new data shows 1 in 4 children in Texas are food insecure and, unfortunately, we lead the nation in food insecurity. Still, organizations like LIFE Houston are working to change that, one mother, one family at a time.
We recently met the Gomez Family. Atticus is three years old and a new big brother to Alaric, who is 10 months old.
Their mom, Jazmin, described her oldest as being in his 'independent stage' while her youngest is in the 'talker' phase. But Jazmin explained that both are LIFE Houston babies, which is why she makes a monthly stop at the LIFE Houston offices in southeast Houston.
It's where she can pick up donated baby formula, and she's been visiting since her firstborn.
"When I had Atticus, he didn't. He was a little complicated with the milk. He had, I guess, a really sensitive stomach."
Jazmin says she had to change his formula multiple times before finally finding one that settled his tummy.
"He went from the infant gentles. I think to the soy, and then he finally stuck to, like, A-R. A-R was the one that helped him the most."
Jazmin is a stay-at-home mom and says she's looking forward to going back to work once her boys go to school. Daycare is expensive, and with both needing a specific formula, she says the non-profit has really helped feed her family through these monthly pick-ups offered up to a year. "With Alaric, I don't get the WIC anymore. So I am paying out of pocket with his formula," Jazmin says.
She tells ABC13 that she usually pays out of pocket, and with this particular type of goat milk, it'll cost up to $45 a can, so LIFE Houston's donations have really helped her, and she's not alone if you look at the data.
LIFE Houston has helped families in crisis since 1988. Their clients are predominantly Latino, and because the need is so great, they're partnering with the City of Houston for the first time to host a formula drive for hungry babies all month long.
Shawntell McWilliams is the CEO of the non-profit and says if you look further into the stats, here in Houston and Harris County, 39% of households are food insecure, significantly higher than the national average of 14%.
She adds that the process to become a recipient is easy, but you do have to fill out paperwork.
"It's a very low barrier application. We don't, we don't, we're not very intrusive. So you can get formula anytime you need it, and any family can come, whether you are on WIC, a person, or just a family in need. I often tell mothers this is a season. You won't always have this season where your baby needs formula. You just need help right now," she said.
McWilliams said a team is ready to answer any questions, including Elsa Gomez. She's been the operations manager since 2002.
Gomez pointed out several pictures in her office and showed what she calls "her whole world." As it turns out, she was also a LIFE Houston recipient with her daughter, so it's a full-circle moment, since her other titles include mom to Jazmin and grandma to Atticus and Alaric.
For more information about the LIFE Houston and City of Houston's formula drive, visit Houston Feeds Hope.
Organizers are asking for unopened, unexpired donations of Enfamil and Similac, since those are the most common, but they will accept specialty formulas.