Hearts and Hands of Baytown want to help you find your way to healthy eating. Most people want to eat healthier, but sometimes it can be hard to find resources to support yourself and your family. We have developed a network of churches, pantries, and local organizations to make sure everyone in our community has access to healthy food. We believe access to healthy food leads to healthy futures.
Let’s find healthy food:
- Sign up for benefits that can help you: These benefits can help stretch your grocery budget, are accepted at most stores, are available even if you have a job, and can provide up to $835 a month for a family of 4 for qualified applicants. We have people on-site to help you with every step of the application process and to find the benefits that will work for you.
- Contact a food pantry near you: You can receive food through local organizations and pantries, including Hearts and Hands of Baytown. There are also options for emergency help.
Do you need more information about our programs and what benefits and resources are available to you? Call us at 832-597-8908 (English) or 281-628-7260 (Español), or email us at HeartsandHandsofBaytown@Gmail.com
About the Baytown Food Security Network
Our Fresh Market is supported by Be WellTM Baytown. Be Well Baytown is an initiative of The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center sponsored by ExxonMobil.
The Be Well Baytown Steering Committee formed a working group called the Baytown Food Security Network (BFSN). The goal of the BFSN is to bring together organizations currently providing emergency food and related services to coordinate their efforts and identify gaps in services and strategies.
Houston Food Bank Resources
Application Assistance is available at no cost on Tuesdays from 9am – 2pm at Hearts and Hands of Baytown. To schedule an appointment or for more information please call 832-597-8908.
Assistance in applying for:
- SNAP + TANF
- CHIP, CHIP Perinatal + Medicaid
- Medicare Savings Program
- Healthy Texas Women’s Program
Bring the following documents:
- ID
- SSN
- Proof of Income (last 3 months)
- Proof of residence (that you live in Texas)
- Proof of housing cost
The Texas Department of Agriculture supports local food banks and food pantries serving the public through The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP). The program provides nutritious foods at no cost to low-income Texans while supporting United States agriculture producers.
Hearts and Hands of Baytown is a proud Houston Food Bank partner serving TEFAP products.
Healthy Eating
Eating a variety of healthy foods can have short-term benefits of feeling better and having more energy, and long-term benefits, such as reducing your risk of cancer and other chronic diseases.
What does healthy eating look like?
- Take MyPlate’s Quiz to get personalized tips and recommended resources.
- Read MD Anderson’s guide on “How to start eating healthy”.
- Learn more about “Building a healthy plate” from MD Anderson.
- MyPlate’s Life Stages resources highlight important nutrition aspects for each phase of life.
How can you make healthy eating easier and more affordable?
- Read MD Anderson’s guide to “Healthy meal planning on a budget”.
- MD Anderson’s “7 tips for a healthy grocery list on a budget” can help you spend less at the store without sacrificing nutrition.
- MyPlate’s Healthy Eating on a Budget resources help you learn how to make a plan, shop smart, and prepare healthy meals on your schedule.
- The MyPlate’s Shop Simple app helps you find savings in your area and explore budget-friendly recipes.
Where can you find healthy recipes?
- Find ideas for each meal from Houston Food Bank’s recipes.
- Check out Brighter Bites recipes and browse them by type of meal or produce.