Our Mission

The mission of Target Hunger is to alleviate hunger and its root causes in the Houston neighborhoods we serve. Our vision is a Houston where no one goes hungry, and everyone can provide food for themselves and their families.

Target Hunger is on the front lines of hunger every day through its food distribution system that includes multiple food pantries, educational food fairs, an extensive home delivery program, summer break food programs for children, mobile distribution sites, a growing community partner program, emergency food assistance, and two gardens. 

Target Hunger is one of Houston’s largest non-profit organizations providing direct food assistance to food insecure children, families, and seniors who face the risk of going hungry every day. In 2023, Target Hunger distributed food to over 21,500 individuals representing nearly 8,400 households. 

We are proud to be a partner of the United Way of Greater Houston and the Houston Food Bank.

Our History

Target Hunger, a United Way agency, was founded in 1989 as a grassroots, community based program to fight the increasing hunger problem in Houston’s inner city neighborhoods. The United Way, along with community leaders including the late Congressman Mickey Leland and Houston businessman Pete Van Horn, joined together to form the Select Committee on Hunger. They focused their attention on the area of town where the needs of the hungry were not being met, and Target Hunger was formed. The service area was initially limited to the greater Fifth Ward and Kashmere Gardens areas: over the years it has gradually expanded to include Houston’s northeast/east region and spans over 10 zip codes, including the neighborhoods of Denver Harbor, Manchester, Magnolia Park, North Forest, Settegast, and many more.

Target Hunger Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Statement

Target Hunger commits to be a diverse, inclusive, and equitable workplace where all employees, volunteers, and clients – whatever their gender, race, ethnicity, national origin, age, sexual orientation or identity, education, or disability, feel valued and respected. We are committed to providing equal opportunity for employment and advancement in our organization. We are committed to modeling diversity and inclusion, and to maintaining an inclusive environment with equitable treatment for all.

We strive to provide informed, authentic leadership for our community to:

  • See diversity, inclusion, and equity as connected to our mission and critical to ensure the well-being of our staff and the communities we serve.
  • Acknowledge and dismantle any inequities within our policies, systems, programs, and services.
  • Advocate for and support board-level thinking about how inequities impact our organization’s work, and how best to address that in a way that is consistent with our mission.
  • Practice and encourage transparent communication in all interactions.
  • Expand more diverse leadership within our board, staff, committee, and advisory bodies.
  • Lead with respect and, inclusivity. We expect all employees, volunteers, and Board members to embrace this notion and to express it in workplace interactions and through everyday practices

SUPPORT YOUR COMMUNITY & HELP US END HUNGER IN HOUSTON