More than 9,000 additional children in Collin County experienced food insecurity in 2024 compared to the year before, a sharp jump that local food pantries in Wylie and Sachse say they're seeing firsthand.

Feeding America's Map the Meal Gap study, released July 28, estimates 53,040 children in Collin County faced food insecurity in 2024. That's an 18.4% child food insecurity rate, up from 15.6% and 43,770 children in 2023.

The county's overall food insecurity rate actually ticked down slightly, from 13.5% to 12.9%, with the total number of food-insecure residents dipping from 150,550 to 149,550, according to the Farmersville Times. But the child numbers moved in the opposite direction.

No Murphy-, Wylie- or Sachse-specific data is available. All three cities sit within Collin County and are subject to these county-wide trends.

Working families caught in the gap

The study found 54% of people experiencing food insecurity in the DFW service area have incomes above the SNAP eligibility threshold, meaning a two-income family can still struggle to keep groceries on the table while being shut out of federal assistance.

Food prices rose nearly 24% between 2020 and 2024, according to the Feeding America report. The average meal in the DFW region costs $3.46, compared with $3.17 statewide.

"As the cost of living continues to outpace household incomes, families across every ZIP code in North Texas are increasingly having to make tough decisions about whether to buy the groceries they need or pay for other essentials, such as gas, rent, medication or utilities," North Texas Food Bank president and CEO Trisha Cunningham said.

Local pantries feel the strain

At Amazing Grace Food Pantry in Wylie, director Karen Ellis said 120 to 150 new families register each month. Between 8,100 and 8,700 people received food from the pantry each month in 2026. The all-volunteer operation, a North Texas Food Bank partner at 1711 Parker Road, distributes more than 60,000 pounds of food monthly.

"Everyone is feeling the pinch of higher costs, so are donors," Ellis told the Farmersville Times. "Donations are down compared to last year."

The pantry is seeking financial donations and volunteer non-CDL truck drivers to pick up food from 11 grocery stores five days a week.

In Sachse, 5 Loaves Ministries serves more than 800 families weekly across Sachse, Wylie, Murphy, Garland, Lavon, St. Paul and Rowlett. The pantry is open Tuesdays from 8 to 10 a.m. and Thursdays starting at 8 a.m., requiring only address verification. As we reported Aug. 5, the organization's Backpack Program sends food home with students on weekends after school counselors identify children who lack food access at home.

"These aren't statistics — we know these children by name," executive director Rebekah Rodgers wrote in a July 29 post about the broader hunger crisis.

What's ahead

Congress has approved changes to SNAP that will shift a greater share of program costs to states. The North Texas Food Bank is asking Congress to delay implementation and encouraging residents concerned about the changes to contact their congressional representatives. With Wylie ISD classes starting Thursday, Aug. 13, programs like the 5 Loaves Backpack Program are set to resume.

Residents can reach Amazing Grace Food Pantry at (972) 292-7241 and 5 Loaves Ministries at (469) 767-8071 or 5loavesministries.org.