ABC13 Launched 46th Share Your Holidays Food Drive

The annual campaign seeks to combat rising food insecurity across the Houston area and southeast Texas.

Updated on Oct. 4, 2026 in Philanthropy

Stacked plain cardboard crates in a clean, brightly lit industrial warehouse used for a food drive.
ABC13 launched its 46th annual Share Your Holidays food drive on Tuesday, aiming to provide resources for Houston's food-insecure population. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Do you believe local food banks in your area have the support needed to combat hunger?

ABC13 has kicked off its 46th annual Share Your Holidays food drive to benefit the Houston Food Bank. The multi-month campaign aims to address the needs of one million food-insecure residents in the region.

Why it matters

The initiative arrives as Feeding Texas reports that 1 in 5 Texans now faces food insecurity, marking a significant rise to 19.4% in the state. Organizers hope to exceed past donation records to mitigate the impact of rising food costs.

The Houston Food Bank provided 143 million meals in Fiscal Year 2025, supported by a model where $1 generates three meals. Projections indicate food prices will increase 3% in the coming years.

The players

ABC13

This local Houston television station hosts the annual Share Your Holidays charity campaign.

Houston Food Bank

This nonprofit organization serves as the primary beneficiary for donations collected during the drive.

Feeding Texas

This statewide network of food banks tracks and reports on regional hunger statistics.

The details

Donations can be submitted via text message or by scanning QR codes displayed during local newscasts. The effort is supported by corporate sponsors including Citgo, Greater Houston Honda Dealers, Houston Ballet, and Oak Farms.

Timeline

  1. The Share Your Holidays food drive first launched in 1980.

  2. The 2013 food drive set a record total of 1,627,115 meals.

  3. The 2025 campaign officially concluded on December 31, 2025.

  4. A food donation drop-off event is scheduled for December 1, 2026.

Market Landscape

This campaign operates within a broader regional landscape where charity drives must scale rapidly to meet surging demand. It follows a pattern set by the Feeding Texas 19.4% food insecurity rate, which reflects growing pressure on household budgets across the state.

Residents can participate by texting SYH2026 to 71777 or scanning QR codes during broadcasts to assist the Houston Food Bank. These contributions directly offset rising grocery costs for families facing food insecurity in the region.

The takeaway

The Share Your Holidays campaign underscores the critical role of private donations in supplementing food bank resources. Individuals looking to support the effort should monitor local broadcasts for updates on the December drop-off event.

What happens next

A major food donation drop-off event is scheduled for December 1, 2026.

Further reading

For more information on charitable initiatives in the area, visit Philanthropy.

Source note: This article includes information reported by abc13 News.

Live Poll

Do you believe local food banks in your area have the support needed to combat hunger?