>>> THE PANDEMIC HAS MADE IT 
VERY DIFFICULT FOR SOME TO GET 
THEIR HANDS ON FOOD AND IS NOT 
JUST BECAUSE OF PANIC BUYING. 
IS BECAUSE SOME PEOPLE CANNOT 
AFFORD FOR FOOD TO BE DELIVERED 
TO THEIR FRONT DOOR OR FIND IT 
EASY TO WALK TO THE GROCERY 
STORE OR EVEN DRIVE. 
SO WE HAVE SEEN A LOT OF THIS. 
VERY LONG LINES OF PEOPLE LIKE 
THIS TODAY AT THE FAMILY YMCA 
FOOD PANTRY. 
ARE INVESTIGATIVE REPORTER GAVE 
US A CLOSER LOOK AT FOOD 
INSECURITY. 
>> Reporter: THE DAY WE MET 
THIS MAN HE WAS HOPING TO SELL 
HIS INFLATABLE PLAYGROUND TO 
GET MONEY. 
NOT AN EASY CHOICE, BUT THESE 
ARE NOT EASY TIMES. 
HE WORKS CONSTRUCTION BUT 
CANNOT FIND ANYTHING NOW.
>> IT IS CHAOTIC. 
I WILL NOT LIE. 
>> Reporter: BUT MONEY IS NOT 
THERE BIGGEST ISSUE. 
IT IS FOOD AND SINCE THEY DON'T 
HAVE A CAR OR BUS SERVICE, IT 
IS HOW TO GET FOOD. 
HE LIVES IN SHELDON AND HE IS 
ONE OF AN ESTIMATED 500,000 
HOUSTON AREA RESIDENTS WHO LIVE 
IN A FOOD DESERT, A 
NEIGHBORHOOD WITHOUT ACCESS TO 
GROCERY STORE.
>> WALMART IS FIVE MILES. 
FOODTOWN IS 10 MILES. 
>> Reporter: SO THEY RELY ON 
GAS STATION CONVENIENCE STORES.
>> THESE ARE RIGHT OVER HERE ON 
THE CORNER LIKE ABOUT A 15 
MINUTE WALK. 
>> Reporter: AMIDST THE 
PANDEMIC PRICES HAVE GONE UP AT 
THOSE STORES AND GETTING TO A 
REAL STORE IS HARDER THAN IT 
WAS BEFORE.>> EVERYONE IS 
SCARED.
>> PEOPLE DON'T KNOW WHAT TO 
DO. 
AND I THINK THAT THEY ARE 
PROBABLY UNDERESTIMATING THE 
SEVERITY OF THE PROBLEM NOW. 
SHE IS AN EXPERT IN CHILDHOOD 
POLICY. 
RESEARCH SHOWS IN SOME LOW 
INCOME NEIGHBORHOODS, HALF THE 
RESIDENTS DON'T HAVE CONSISTENT 
ACCESS TO FOOD AND THAT WAS 
BEFORE JOBS WERE LOST. 
>> NOW THEY HAVE TO BE 
SOPHISTICATED TO NAVIGATE THE 
SYSTEM. 
>> Reporter: DISTRIBUTIONS ARE 
UP 50% AT THE FOOD BANKS. 
THE LINES THAT SCHOOLS CAN 
STRETCH MORE THAN A MILE, BUT 
THERE IS SOMETHING YOU CAN DO 
TO HELP FAMILIES AND IT WILL 
COST HER THING.>> PLEASE STOP 
HOARDING FOOD. 
STOP BUYING MORE THAN WHAT YOU 
ACTUALLY NEED TO FEED YOUR 
FAMILY. 
>> Reporter: FOR FAMILIES WHO 
NEED TO GET A RIDE TO THE STORE 
AND SPEND FOOD STAMPS WHEN THEY 
GET THERE, THERE IS NO SECOND 
CHANCE.
>> YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THAT 
BY THE TIME THEY ARE ABLE TO 
GET TO THE GROCERY STORE, THERE 
NEEDS TO BE FOOD AVAILABLE AND 
IT NEEDS TO MEET WITH THEY ARE 
QUALIFIED ARE ABLE TO PURCHASE.
>> IT'S NOT LIKE WE CAN JUMP IN 
THE CAR AND TAKE OFF. 
WE HAVE TO SCHEDULE AND SAY CAN 
WE GO TO THE STORE TOMORROW AND 
THEY COME AND PICK US UP. 
BEFORE THIS HAPPENED, EVERYONE 
WAS WILLING TO HELP EVERYONE. 
>> Reporter: IS FAR FROM ALONE. 
AT THE HOUSTON FOOD BANK THEY 
ESTIMATE THERE ARE TENS OF 
THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WHO CANNOT 
ACCESS FOOD RIGHT NOW. 
NOT THE ONES WHO ARE GETTING 
THIS FOO
