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By Rio Grande Guardian Staff
WESLACO, Texas — Expressing alarm over rising rates of hunger and food insecurity across the region, local leaders and advocacy organizations will gather in Weslaco on Thursday for a regional forum aimed at confronting the growing crisis.
The event, titled “Hunger in the RGV: A Call to Action,” is hosted by Hidalgo County Judge Richard F. Cortez in collaboration with Bread for the World.
The forum takes place Thursday, Sept. 3, from 8:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. in Auditorium G191 of the North Academic Building (Building G) at South Texas College’s Mid-Valley Campus in Weslaco. Parking is available in Lots 1 and 2.
In an interview with the Rio Grande Guardian International News Service, Felipe Salinas, Rio Grande Valley leader for Bread for the World, said the forum was organized in response to mounting data and community reports showing an increase in food insecurity.
“About one in every four households in the Rio Grande Valley experiences hunger and food insecurity, which is higher than the national average and the state of Texas,” Salinas told the Guardian. “We want to engage local leaders from across all sectors to learn more about the problem, the causes, what we’re doing now to address it, and especially what we need to do to try to reverse what’s happening.”
Impact of Federal Policy Changes
Salinas attributed a significant portion of the rising hunger numbers to policy changes tied to federal legislation passed in July 2025, known as H.R. 1 or the “One Big Beautiful Bill.” The legislation altered how the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is administered nationwide.
According to Salinas, Texas has seen a reduction of approximately 600,000 individuals—a 17 percent drop—on SNAP rolls since the law was enacted.
In the Rio Grande Valley alone, roughly 53,000 people have lost SNAP coverage over the past year, representing a similar 16 to 17 percent decline.
“Over half of those are children. Fifty-eight percent of the people dropped from SNAP since a year ago are children here in the Valley,” Salinas said. “When so many households in the Valley rely on SNAP as one of the main ways they keep food on the table, that number alone tells us why hunger is on the rise.”
Salinas warned that local food banks and food pantries are experiencing heightened demand, adding that upcoming administrative shifts to SNAP could exacerbate the situation further.
Broad Economic and Health Repercussions
Beyond immediate nutrition needs, Salinas emphasized that food insecurity creates long-term challenges for the region’s health, education, and economy.
“Not having food on the table leads to negative health outcomes, and especially for children, not only their health suffers, but their learning suffers,” Salinas explained.
He noted that rising food insecurity placed additional financial strains on college students and working families across the Valley.
“We have so many students, especially at the college level, who have to work in order to stay in school. If their family is facing increasing food insecurity and they have to go get an extra job, that leads to kids stopping out of school and not completing their education,” Salinas said. “That starts to have an effect across our whole economy. We’re not producing the educated workforce that we need to attract investment.”
Event Schedule and Speakers
Thursday’s agenda will bring together civic, faith, healthcare, and policy leaders to outline immediate responses and legislative strategies:
|
Time / Segment |
Session Topic |
Key Speakers / Panelists |
|
Opening |
Welcome & Invocation |
• Hon. Richard F. Cortez, Hidalgo County Judge • Sister Norma Pimentel, Executive Director, Catholic Charities of the RGV |
|
Overview |
Current Regional Landscape |
• Omar I. Rodriguez, Food Bank of the Rio Grande Valley |
|
Panel Discussion |
Health, Economic & Educational Impacts |
• Experts from the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) • Representatives from the Methodist Healthcare Ministries / AltaCare Foundation |
|
Keynote Address |
Call to Action |
• Dr. Jeremy Everett, Executive Director, Baylor Collaborative on Hunger and Poverty |
|
Policy Briefing |
Legislative & Advocacy Outlook |
• Jamie Olson, Vice President of Policy and Advocacy, Feeding Texas |
Salinas noted that the forum aims to bridge direct relief efforts with long-term policy solutions.
“It is a concern for all of us that we reverse these kinds of trends,” Salinas said. “We need to begin engaging not only in doing the work that all of the organizations are already doing to help people immediately, but to begin engaging on public policy.”
Event Details At-a-Glance
- Event: Hunger in the RGV: A Call to Action
- Date: Thursday, September 3, 2026
- Time: 8:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
- Location: South Texas College – Mid-Valley Campus, North Academic Building (Building G), Auditorium G191, 400 S. Border Ave., Weslaco, TX
- Parking: Campus Lots 1 & 2
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