“La Tiendita” Gulfton is now open for residents after its ribbon-cutting ceremony Friday afternoon.
The brand new middle can be at Bayland Park’s Learn Constructing and can present free, appointment-based companies like meals help, diet training, cooking demonstrations and different nutrition-related help in each English and Spanish for native residents.
Greater than half of households with school-aged youngsters have confronted meals insecurity during the last 12 months, in response to a ballot from a statewide nonprofit launched earlier this 12 months. And in 2021, the food-insecure inhabitants was at practically one million within the Houston space, in response to Feeding America, the nationwide community of meals banks linked to the Houston Meals Financial institution.
Harris County Precinct 4 Commissioner Lesley Briones, who represents the neighborhood, mentioned the Sharpstown-Gulfton space has round 41,000 households. She mentioned about half of them are households who’re thought-about low-income.
“As a neighborhood coming collectively to supply this free help to our brothers and sisters, our neighbors, is energizing to my soul,” she mentioned.
La Tiendita is a part of a rising well being hub on the Bayland Neighborhood Middle. A teen well being clinic, dental companies and diabetes prevention companies are additionally obtainable close by. The Better Houston chapter of the American Coronary heart Affiliation can even work with La Tiendita to supply meals, well being and blood strain training to residents.
That is the second location the Tejano Middle for Neighborhood Considerations has opened, with one other location in Pasadena. Adriana Tamez, president and CEO of the Tejano Middle, mentioned La Tiendita supported greater than 8,000 people by means of meals distribution final 12 months.
“We’re grateful to have the ability to accomplice and convey companies to weak communities,” Tamez mentioned. “La Tiendita is greater than only a pantry. … It’s a complete useful resource designed to empower households to thrive.”
