2021 Chamber Holiday Food Drive Post Event - Greater Houston LGBTQ Chamber of Commerce Foundation

Friday, December 10, 2021

The Chamber Holiday Food Drive was absolutely amazing and to see tons of people and companies drop off food and donate to the Virtual Food Drive shows the power of community coming TOGETHER to make a difference. Because of the generosity of donors and sponsors, the Chamber Holiday Food Drive...

Was the largest food drive to-date for the Montrose Center
Increased the number of LGBTQ+ Senior holiday boxes from 150 to 250
Provided 3,750 shelf-stable meals distributed from food drive donations during the holidays
Expanded capacities at the Montrose Center food pantries
Filled up the Montrose Center Outreach & COVID Pantries
Stocked the brand new pantry at the Law Harrington Senior Living Center
Ensured food availability beyond the holiday season to those in the LGBTQ+ community who are food insecure
Raised $8,000 for the Montrose Center to support the stocking of the pantries in 2022

The impact of the Chamber Holiday Food Drive will be felt throughout 2022 thanks to the many organizations and individuals who stepped up to help out this year!

Listen in below as Tammi Wallace, Chamber Co-Founder, President & CEO, talks with the team from the Montrose Center about the impact of the 2021 Chamber Holiday Food Drive for LGBTQ+ Seniors and the organization. It was another record-breaking year for the food drive and supporting the community!

Read the Chamber blog post here.

Thank You to our Sponsors!

Virtual Food Drive

Individual financial donations are accepted through the Virtual Food Drive. Donations will help support purchases of food for the holiday boxes, food pantry and Montrose Center programs to support LGBTQ+ clients in need.

Thank you for helping the Chamber turn the table on hunger for LGBTQ+ Seniors this holiday season!

"It's incomprehensible that so many of our LGBTQ+ Seniors, who have paved the way for the LGBTQ+ community, will not have food on their tables during the holidays. Yet, this is a problem that is happening in our own backyard because so many LGBTQ+ Seniors in our community face food insecurity. We must step up to support them. If we don't as a community, who will?

Together, as a community, we can make a difference. The Chamber is looking beyond our "four walls" and giving back, and we are asking the community for your help in supporting the food drive so we can lift up LGBTQ+ Seniors this holiday season."

- Tammi Wallace, Co-Founder, President & CEO, Greater Houston LGBT Chamber of Commerce

Continuing the tradition of filling holiday food boxes this year for LGBTQ+ Seniors would not be possible without the support of organizations like the Greater Houston LGBT Chamber of Commerce. All of us here at the Montrose Center are truly honored that the Chamber has chosen to host, for the second year, a Holiday Food Drive to supply essential items for our annual Holiday Meals distribution.

- Kennedy Loftin, Chief Development Officer, the Montrose Center

Food Drive FAQ

Why is the Chamber Foundation hosting a Food Drive?

For the Chamber Foundation, the Holiday Food Drive is about community and giving back during the holiday season. As an organization, the Chamber is at the intersection of business + community. We are using our resources to bring together business and community to support LGBTQ+ Seniors this holiday season.

What was the impact of the Chamber Holiday Food Drive in 2021?

In 2021, the Chamber Holiday Food Drive provided 15,789 free meals to LGBTQ+ seniors of the Law Harrington Senior Living Center, an LGBTQ-affirming housing center, and other non-residents through the Montrose Center programs. Read more about the impact of the 2020 Food Drive here.

What is the need for LGBTQ+ Seniors during the holiday season?

The holiday season is a time people gather around festive meals to celebrate and give thanks with family and friends, but for many of our LGBTQ+ community members, this season can be difficult emotionally and financially. With twice as many LGBTQ+ aging alone in relation to their heterosexual and cisgender peers, seniors experiencing food insecurity, face the difficult task of providing a holiday meal while still making sure they have enough groceries for the week.

How will the food raised for LGBTQ+ Seniors be distributed?

In addition to the year-round provision of food and other essential services to clients in crisis, the Montrose Center’s case managers have teamed up over the years to ensure that none of their clients are forgotten during the holidays by creating holiday food boxes with food and other necessities. These food boxes will fill a crucial gap for the Center's LGBTQ+ clients and will be distributed to LGBTQ+ Seniors. Helping our seniors put food on their table is one of the single most effective ways to improve their quality of life under such circumstances.

How has the pandemic impacted the LGBTQ+ community?

The ongoing pandemic has only added to these struggles. Before this pandemic, 1 out of 5 LGBTQ+ adults lived in food poverty with our seniors representing additional food insecurity. Now this vulnerable demographic continues to face unique hardships, like unemployment, isolation, inability to access culturally competent physical and mental healthcare, and increasing food insecurity.

Learn more about the impact of the 2020 Chamber Holiday Food Drive and why giving back made such a difference for LGBTQ+ Seniors.