Beginning Wednesday, May 5, working low-income families in Fort Bend County will have an easier time accessing food assistance. The Mamie George Community Center (MGCC) in Richmond, operated by Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston, will begin distributing food one evening a week: on Wednesdays from 5:00-6:30 p.m.
“In many cases, individuals are working full-time hours but earning lower wages that won’t lift a family out of poverty. Many people with a minimum wage job need help keeping their families fed,” said MGCC Executive Director Gladys Brumfield-James. “By adding the early evening hours, Catholic Charities can help families who can’t come to our usual food distributions held earlier in the day.”
The ongoing schedule for drive-through food distribution also includes Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. Families are asked to make an appointment for weekday food pick-up. In addition, food fairs open to anyone are held on a Saturday each month from 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. The next food fair is Saturday, May 22. To make an appointment or view the food fair schedule, visit CatholicCharities.org/CovidFoodDistribution.
The need for food assistance in Fort Bend County continues to run high during the COVID-19 pandemic. MGCC has surpassed all of its records for food distribution. Since the pandemic began in March 2020, MGCC provided 3.3 million pounds of food to families who drive through the food pick-up line.
Loading cases of food into thousands of vehicle trunks takes the help of sturdy, faithful volunteers. Especially noteworthy is regular support from the Order of Malta, a lay Catholic religious order devoted to care for the sick and poor. Recently, MGCC’s food warehouse was dedicated and named to honor the late Lester L. Hewitt, KM (for Knights of Malta), a long-time volunteer who was instrumental in establishing the partnership between the Order of Malta and the Mamie George Community Center.
In addition to providing volunteers, the Order of Malta also maintains a fund used to procure proteins and meats for food fairs at MGCC.
The Mamie George Community Center is located at 1111 Collins Road, Richmond, Texas 77469. Other services during the pandemic include financial assistance for families in need of help with rent and other essential expenses, meal delivery to seniors, and support for women veterans.