Stephen F. Austin State University community members joined Nacogdoches County leaders to launch Hunger Free Nacogdoches Sin Hambre, a coalition focused on organizing feeding resources within the county to meaningfully address food insecurity for those who are at risk.
Food insecurity is the lack of consistent access to enough affordable, nutritious food for individuals and families to live healthy, active lives. It can affect more people than many realize, often in ways that are not always visible.
According to Dr. James Morris, assistant professor in SFA’s School of Social Work and co-chair of HFNSH, food insecurity can look like reaching the end of a pay period with
Stephen F. Austin State University community members joined Nacogdoches County leaders to launch Hunger Free Nacogdoches Sin Hambre, a coalition focused on organizing feeding resources within the county to meaningfully address food insecurity for those who are at risk. Members of the coalition’s leadership team posed for a photo during a community conversation café. Front row, from left, are Kallie Pitcock, HFNSH secretary, and Dr. Kristin Bailey-Wallace, associate professor in SFA’s School of Social Work. Back row, from left, are Megan Miller, instructor in SFA’s Department of Government; Catie Munguia, HFNSH chair; Sherian Daniels; Gabriela Martinez, SFA Master of Social Work student; Lauren Gaudette; Diedre Harrison, Nacogdoches HOPE Food Pantry executive director; and Dr. James Morris, HFNSH co-chair and assistant professor in the School of Social Work.
more days left than money available to buy groceries, relying on a credit card to purchase food, or having to choose less nutritious options because they fit within the household budget.
“The coalition is important as this is the first time that a coordinated, countywide effort has been initiated to address food insecurity by aligning resources, coordinating efforts and gathering concerned people and organizations to make more healthy food available for more empty bellies,” Morris said. “HFNSH is a collection of community members, nonprofit organizations, feeding ministries and SFA-affiliated academics and researchers who convene to coordinate existing resources for the end goal of addressing food insecurity.”
The coalition works with Baylor Collaborative on Hunger and Poverty, Nacogdoches HOPE Food Pantry, Sacred Heart Food Pantry, Better Together Nacogdoches and the East Texas Food Bank. Additionally, the coalition includes representation from the Nacogdoches Ministerial Alliance, Pilgrim’s Pride, Brendyn’s BBQ, Brown Family Health Center and Nacogdoches Independent School District.
In January 2026, the coalition was formed from an opportunity through the Baylor Collaborative on Hunger and Poverty, referred to as the Hunger Free Community Accelerator program, sponsored by the Episcopal Health Foundation. A group of 16 community leaders were selected to participate in the two-year intensive program designed to educate community members on food insecurity in their county, and empower them to organize to address food insecurity.
Since its inception, the coalition has conducted a landscape analysis — a structured examination of food insecurities and resources in Nacogdoches County — interviewed relevant stakeholders, announced the launch of the coalition to the broader public through a community presentation and began to host coalition meetings.
According to Morris, SFA community members have volunteered for membership in the coalition and its leadership council, and have served in other feeding capacities across nonprofit organizations and churches. Members of the SFA community are welcome to attend coalition meetings, become involved in a working group or volunteer with a partner organization.
“It is important to have SFA at the table in all of this because of the role that SFA plays in the Nacogdoches community,” Morris said. “The university is a major employer of those who have the capacity to do this work. Overwhelmingly, those SFA-affiliated persons who have been involved in HFNSH so far have been very curious and motivated to participate. I hope we are able to coordinate meaningful opportunities for HFNSH and SFA researchers to address food insecurity in our home. The future is bright with possibilities, and we hope to move this forward.”
For more information about HFNSH, follow the Facebook page at facebook.com/hungerfreenac.
ABOUT STEPHEN F. AUSTIN STATE UNIVERSITY
Stephen F. Austin State University, the newest member of The University of Texas System, began a century ago as a teachers’ college in Texas’ oldest town, Nacogdoches. Today, it has grown into a regional institution comprising six colleges — business, education, fine arts, forestry and agriculture, liberal and applied arts, and sciences and mathematics. Accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, SFA enrolls approximately 11,000 students while providing the academic breadth of a state university with the personalized attention of a private school. The main campus encompasses 421 acres that include 40 academic facilities, 11 residence halls, and 68 acres of recreational trails that wind through its six gardens. The university offers more than 80 bachelor’s degrees, more than 40 master’s degrees and four doctoral degrees covering over 120 areas of study. Learn more at sfasu.edu.
By University Marketing Communications
