Almost one week after a series of winter storms, communities like Wixon Valley and Snook are still without clean drinking water.
At least one local emergency management coordinator reported well damage for private landowners, leaving rural families without water as well.
That's when the Brazos Valley Food Bank stepped in to help.
"We’ve received in 16 pallets of water that was coordinated through the Texas Department of Emergency Management, as well as several private donors in the community,” said Ebony Knight, Brazos Valley Food Bank distribution manager.
On Monday those pallets were distributed to local counties from the food bank’s warehouse in Bryan, and more pallets are expected in soon. The situation is a bit different, however, in terms of food.
"So there’s not any extra food that we’ve received because of the winter storm," Knight explained. "We’ve only been using the product that we have. We have increased some of the orders to other food pantries so that they can handle the increase.”
The food bank has been alerted to an increase in the need for food in the area, according to Knight. In turn, food bank leadership decided to assemble 120 boxes of non-perishable food that can be eaten without cooking.
A total of 10 volunteers were solicited to pack these boxes, which will be distributed throughout the region as requested.
“I enjoy doing something I feel is a worthwhile cause,” commented Wixon Valley resident Suzy Mills.
Mills has been forced to boil her drinking water for several days due to winter weather disruptions in her area.
Despite her own need, Mills says she felt compelled to give back, volunteering to help pack food boxes at the warehouse.
"I feel luckier than most people," she commented. "And that’s kind of your rent for being here on Earth is to give back.”
Food bank leadership says they expect more food and bottled water to come over the next few days, which they will share with the emergency management coordinators and food bank partners specific to each county.