Church Packages 12,096 Meals for Houston Hunger Relief

Members of Lakewood Methodist Church in Houston packed meals as part of the Rise Against Hunger campaign on September 13.

Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Philanthropy

Bold vector editorial illustration of a burlap grain sack beside stacked kraft cartons on a wooden table, warm coral and sage palette. — Members of Lakewood Methodist Church in Houston packaged 12,096 meals on September 13 for the Rise Against Hunger campaign. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Members of Lakewood Methodist Church packaged 12,096 meals on September 13 for the Rise Against Hunger campaign. Since 2015, church members have packaged 142,128 meals for the Houston community.

Why it matters

Houston residents face high rates of food insecurity, with 19.4% of Houstonians and 26.1% of children experiencing hunger. Texas also has the largest food-insecure population in the U.S., making local efforts like this one a visible part of the response.

Church members have packaged 142,128 meals since 2015, and the Food Pantry received 2,900 pounds of food this year in partnership with a local Scout Troop. The extraction does not confirm how many meals were ultimately distributed to recipients.

The players

Lakewood Methodist Church

A United Methodist congregation at 11330 Louetta Road in Houston that runs a food pantry, a Clothing Closet and meal-packaging efforts for the surrounding community.

Rise Against Hunger

A nonprofit hunger-relief organization that coordinates meal-packaging campaigns with volunteer groups across the United States and abroad.

The details

Lakewood Methodist Church members packaged meals as part of the Rise Against Hunger campaign, which the church began in Houston in 2015. Congregants also donate food items on the first Sunday of every month to restock the church's ongoing Food Pantry, which serves more than 310 local families per year.

2015: Church begins Rise Against Hunger meal packaging in Houston.
September 13, 2026: Members package 12,096 meals.
First Sunday of every month: Congregants donate food to restock the Food Pantry.
Thanksgiving and Christmas: Holiday Food Drives deliver meals to nearly 40 families.

Community Response

Local congregations like Lakewood Methodist have sustained the Rise Against Hunger campaign in Houston for more than a decade, extending a volunteer-based model that supplements food bank supply. The church's 142,128 meals since 2015 represent one congregation's contribution within a broader network of faith-based hunger relief in the city.

Residents who want to help can donate food items to a local pantry on the first Sunday of the month, or volunteer for meal-packaging events. Lakewood Methodist's Food Pantry and Clothing Closet are open to community members who need support.

The takeaway

Small, recurring volunteer efforts like monthly food drives and meal-packing days can add up to large community impact over time. Residents looking to help can start with a single donation or shift.