BEAUMONT, Texas — Southeast Texas food banks are facing increased demand as Texas remains one of the most food-insecure in the country, and the recent pause in SNAP benefits during the government shutdown has pushed even more families to seek assistance.

12News has kicked off our 31st annual Share Your Christmas food drive, continuing a decades-long partnership with the Southeast Texas Food Bank to help address hunger across the region.

Texas consistently ranks among the nation’s ten most food-insecure states, and this year’s federal shutdown has strained local resources even further. Harvey Zernial, president and CEO of the Southeast Texas Food Bank, said the interruption in SNAP support left the nonprofit with dwindling supplies.

“Now that the shutdown is over and hopefully the bene

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