“You never know who may be experiencing a financial crisis or food insecurity. It could be your next door neighbor, a family at church, your child’s grade-school friend,” says Development Director Megan Leonhardt. “We help our neighbors in need, when they need it. Since 1990, we’ve awarded more than $3 million in financial assistance.”
 
“What we do at EFBHNM is to serve the basic human needs of families in our community in a temporary financial crisis. We see new families each week, and it’s often not who you would expect. So many of our neighbors are affected by job loss, a change in family dynamics, and other unexpected situations that leave them in need of assistance,” says Executive Director Stacey Williams.
 
In 2024, they assisted almost 15,000 children experiencing food insecurity in our community; almost 500 children received a full backpack before their first day of school; 644 families celebrated the holidays with a bountiful meal; and almost 9,000 families were served through EFBHNM’s food pantry.
 
“With the higher price of eggs, sugar, nonalcoholic beverages, and beef, total food prices in the United States are expected to increase by 3.4 percent this year, which is slightly higher than the historical average,” Megan explains. “We’re here to help.”
 
“We’re an interfaith food pantry and resale shop, working with local churches to cover the needs of our community. We started 35 years ago with three churches and have grown into a coalition of a dozen churches. Getting groceries here can save a family money to use for other essential items. It can free up their funds to pay a utility or medical bill,” Megan explains. “Our volunteer support helps us serve people of all walks of life, and many people come back as volunteers after they’ve received assistance.”
 
The organization’s mission is completely privately funded by individual donors, the resale shop, privately funded grants, and events and fundraisers. EFBHNM’s biggest fundraiser of the year is Fort Bend Empty Bowls, being held this year on June 13th at the Houston Marriott Sugar Land. Fort Bend Empty Bowls is a grassroots effort by artists and craftspeople in cities and towns across the country to feed the hungry in their communities.
 
Now in its 16th year, the dinner provided at Fort Bend Empty Bowls includes a simple meal of appetizers, delicious soups, and bread. This year’s Fort Bend Empty Bowls Title Sponsor is Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital. Local restaurants will provide the soup. Various sponsorship opportunities are still available.
 
“Last year, we raised a record-breaking amount of donations at the event, and plan to top it in 2025, our 35th year of helping Fort Bend residents,” Megan says.
 
Purchase Empty Bowls tickets and learn more about sponsorship opportunities by visiting www.humanneeds.org/empty-bowls.
 
East Fort Bend Human Needs Ministry, Inc.
281-261-1006
435 Stafford Run
Stafford, Texas 77477
www.humanneeds.org