Two years ago, the Texas Gulf Coast was struck by a major disaster: Hurricane Beryl. Hurricane Beryl was both the earliest-forming Category 4 and Category 5 hurricane on record in the Atlantic Ocean, as well as the strongest hurricane to develop within the Atlantic’s Main Development Region before the month of July. While some people have moved on from this disaster, others like David Huang, founder and president of Harvest for the Hungry Inc. have not and continue assisting communities impacted by Beryl.

Harvest for the Hungry Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to combating food insecurity. Its mission is to provide healthy, farm-to-table food to those in need through production, education, and research.

The organization received a grant from the American Red Cross through the Hurricane Beryl Bridge Financial Assistance Program. With this funding, Harvest for the Hungry has been able to repair its storage facilities and walk-in refrigerator, helping to prolong the shelf life of the food it grows. They have also added additional greenhouses, allowing crops to be planted earlier and later in the year. This not only ensures access to fresh, nutritious produce year-round but also expands overall production.

“When people live in a food desert, some of their only options are gas stations or stores like Dollar General. To be able to give people good, nutritious food has been a blessing,” says David Huang.

Harvest for the Hungry has helped more than 300 people directly affected by Hurricane Beryl, as well as thousands more within the broader community. With new infrastructure now in place, the organization is better prepared for future disasters.

“It is not a matter of if, but when the next hurricane, drought, or flood occurs. We must be ready to help our community,” says Huang.

The Long-Term Recovery Bridge Assistance Program, previously known as the Basic Assistance Program, is a financial assistance program that can be initiated after a disaster relief operation (DRO) when recovery funds are available. The primary goal of the Bridge Assistance Program is to provide financial assistance to households with at least one unmet recovery need and whose homes were found to have major or destroyed damage.

Through key relationships with community and faith-based organizations, the Red Cross initiates longterm recovery bridge assistance by launching a financial assistance campaign that reaches out to the many diverse communities affected by a disaster.

Story By: Joseph Ruiz