KILLEEN, Texas (KWTX) – Food pantries across Central Texas are expressing concerns about the possible effects of tariffs on goods from Mexico and Canada. While these tariffs are currently paused for a month, the uncertainty surrounding their future is causing anxiety within the region’s food assistance network.
Economist Ray Perryman from The Perryman Group, speaking to KWTX, highlighted the potential economic impact of these tariffs, estimating that they could cost the average household around $1,500 annually. This economic pressure is a significant worry for food pantries, including the Food Care Center in Killeen.
Raymond Cockrell, executive director of the Food Care Center, voiced concerns about how these tariffs could affect the availability of food for distribution. He explained, “It wouldn’t affect us from a cost perspective, it would just affect us really more so from an availability perspective, where we might not have them available to us to distribute to the families in need in our community.” The immediate concern is the supply of produce, a critical component sourced from the Central Texas Food Bank and local grocery stores.
The Central Texas Food Bank plays a vital role in supplying food to numerous pantries throughout the region. Cockrell noted that a significant 75% of the food items available to pantries from the food bank are produce. He described the potential impact as a “trickle-down, trickle-up effect,” emphasizing the unknown consequences of supply chain disruptions. “Anytime there’s supply chain issues….it could have a serious [impact] on the availability of produce,” he stated.
Beyond supply issues, increased prices due to tariffs could drive more individuals and families to rely on food pantries. “If we see a huge spike in groceries, then, inevitably, we would see a spike in the number of people coming through our doors,” Cockrell said. The Food Care Center already serves about one family every minute during opening hours, and any significant increase in demand would place further strain on their resources.
Central Texas food pantries have already faced considerable challenges in recent years. The COVID-19 pandemic, coupled with rising inflation and increased demand, has made it difficult to maintain fully stocked shelves. Cockrell illustrated the increased cost of providing meals, stating, “Before COVID, we used to be…every dollar we could buy seven meals, and now every dollar we can buy five meals.”
Just as food pantries were beginning to recover from the pandemic-related strains, the potential impacts of tariffs are looming. Cockrell expressed his emotional response to this situation: “It breaks my heart, makes me angry that, if we’re not able to supply the folks that come through our doors, the amount of groceries that we would like to.” Despite these challenges, Food Care Center remains committed to serving their community.
“We’ve been doing this for 38 years, so we’ve weathered many storms, and we’ll weather this one as well,” Cockrell affirmed. He expressed confidence in community support, adding, “I know that our community will step up and support us, and our doors are always going to be open and we’re going to continue to serve families in need in our community.”
Food Care Center is closely monitoring the tariff situation and its potential effects on their ability to provide produce and other essential food items. However, Cockrell reiterated their unwavering commitment: “Regardless, we’re going to continue to stand in the gap created by hunger in our community.”
For those wishing to support these efforts, financial donations are crucial. To make a donation to the Food Care Center, please click here.
To support your local food pantry, please check the provided links for donation opportunities.
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