In response to Winter Storm Uri and the unprecedented level of basic needs that remain across the city of Houston, the Junior League hosted a Crisis Food and Water Drive on Saturday, March 10, serving 10 League agency partners. The Crisis Food and Water Drive provided a family-sized meal, warm dinner rolls and a case or more of water to each family. More than 250 families were welcomed to the Junior League, providing food for more than 2000 individuals. Thank you to League volunteers and the Junior League kitchen staff for preparing and distributing food and water during this difficult time to help meet the needs of so many families in our community.

As a result of the city-wide power outages, Kids’ Meals lost food supplies and was temporarily unable to provide meals to the approximately 6,400 children it serves on a daily basis. The League answered the call for volunteers and members had the opportunity to give back to Kids’ Meals through additional IMPACT shifts. The various shift options included the opportunity to decorate brown paper lunch sacks or create DIY lunch packs, which include four shelf stable items of: drink, snack, fruit & protein (sandwich equivalent). Over 100 League volunteers signed up for the Kids’ Meals IMPACT shifts after Winter Storm Uri. Over 6,178 healthy lunches were packed and donated along with 5,030 decorated lunch bags.

“In my five years of volunteering with Kids’ Meals and seeing the first-hand effects of Hurricane Harvey, COVID-19 and the recent Winter Storm Uri, I clearly can see how important this placement is and the direct impact we have on the community. The lunches we make during volunteer shifts during the week are delivered the very next day to children,” said Stacey Gregg, Kids’ Meals Chairman. “I’m glad we have been able to add opportunities for other members of the League to participate and gain insight into Kids’ Meals, not only as a placement opportunity but as an organization.”

In 2020, the  Junior League of Houston also graciously donated funds to Kids’ Meals, Inc. to fund the operation of a Kids’ Meals van. The van drives daily routes delivering bagged meals to children whose families have signed up for the program. This van was heavily utilized post-storm in delivering meals to children and their families.