South Houston is moving to evict the volunteer-run food pantry Going Above and Beyond from a city-owned building it has used since 2024, with officials ordering the group to vacate and remove all property by February 6. The pantry serves between 500 and 800 families weekly, and volunteers worried about their last distribution on Tuesday.
Founder Nancy Sanchez said, “Now I feel heartbroken,” after receiving the eviction notice, noting the city had allowed them to use the space on a donation basis without a formal lease, according to KHOU. Pantry organizers are urging neighbors to attend a city council meeting Tuesday night to push officials to reverse the decision.
City Cites Inspector Access In Building Dispute
Councilman Willie Rios said a city code inspector was denied access to the pantry space and argued the city must have full access to city-owned property, according to KHOU. Mayor Joe Soto and Rios issued a written statement saying the city is aware of the dispute but cannot comment because the situation “involves pending or threatened litigation,” according to the station.
Volunteers and some pantry clients told reporters the move felt unfair and warned that shutting the operation down at short notice could leave hundreds of families scrambling to find their next meal.
Pantry’s Post-Beryl Roots And Big Reach
Going Above and Beyond’s website says the group began working out of the city facility after Hurricane Beryl and notes a partnership with the Houston Food Bank. The pantry’s own description emphasizes a broad service area and large weekly distributions. Volunteers say that scale is exactly why losing the current location, and potentially its refrigeration and delivery setup, would be so disruptive. Organizers say they are already looking at alternate locations, but an abrupt move raises serious logistics problems, especially for cold storage and truck deliveries that keep fresh food moving.
Inside The Community Center Site
The pantry currently operates at the South Houston Community Center at 1007 State Street. On its website, the city lists a community pantry partnership there with Going Above and Beyond and the Houston Food Bank, along with program details and an application link for residents seeking food assistance.
With the Feb. 6 deadline fast approaching, volunteers say the uncertainty is stretching a small core team and could create gaps in service for families who have come to depend on the weekly food distributions.
What Happens Next And Where Residents Can Turn
City officials say the dispute will move through the appropriate legal channels as the eviction process continues. For now, the pantry is trying to keep food moving while preparing for the possibility of relocation.
Donations and volunteer sign ups are listed on the pantry’s website at Going Above & Beyond. Families who need immediate help can search for other distribution sites through the partner locator on the Houston Food Bank website. Pantry leaders told reporters they plan to post updates on alternate pick up locations and volunteer shifts as soon as new plans are in place.
