'How we get our food': Central Texas Food Bank doubles supplies at Turkey Giveaway, hundreds of families wait hours

PFLUGERVILLE, Texas (KXAN) — This year, the Central Texas Food Bank's annual turkey giveaway served nearly twice as many families compared to last year.

The food bank told KXAN it doubled what it would normally be giving away, anticipating more families would show up due to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits cut because of the government shut down. And they did.

There were over 600 families at the giveaway outside of Pflugerville Stadium Tuesday morning. Some had to be turned away. However, the food bank asked people to go to their evening distribution event at Nelson Field from 5-7 p.m., so they can get what they need.

That demand is expected to keep going up.

"We got our SNAP cut," one woman who is relies on federal assistance, due to being disabled, said. "We just need the help."

From disabled individuals -- young, elderly, and even state employees -- all types of families are struggling right now, in large part because of the government shutdown.

"There's no money," a woman waiting in line for food Tuesday said. "The money that I get...goes to my rent and the bills.

A mom of three told KXAN she hasn't had to rely on food distribution events until recently.

"This is how we get our food," she said.

Some, arrived over an hour before the event started and waited in the line for even longer.

"I have no choice," the mom of three said. "If I want to eat, I have to wait."

Typically at the monthly Pflugerville Stadium food distribution event, a long-time volunteer told KXAN the parking lot would usually only be half full. On Tuesday, the lot was packed. That led to an overflow in other parking lots.

"We're seeing about a 50% increase in the need right now," Sari Vatske, president and chief executive officer of the Central Texas Food Bank said. "It's one thing when you see natural disasters or daily crisis, it's another thing when you see this as a result of a manmade disaster in crisis."

Vatske calls the rise in demand unprecedented and said it's worse than the pandemic.

According to the Central Texas Food Bank, 127,000 families in the region rely on SNAP benefits and are now turning to them for help without getting those full benefits.

The food bank will be doing more regular food distribution events during the evening and on weekends.