Hidalgo County is working to tackle food insecurity in the Rio Grande Valley, and local leaders want the community's help.

Hidalgo County Judge Richard Cortez is bringing together nonprofits, food banks, and health clinics to find the root causes of hunger in the Valley. According to Feeding America, food insecurity affects nearly one in four people in the Valley.

"We want to find solutions to the problem that we have; we can't help if we don't know who you are," Cortez said. "What kind of community do we want to be? The type of community we want to be is people helping people. Who doesn't want to live in an area where people help people? And this is what this is about."

People can learn more about food insecurity at a free community event called "Hunger in the RGV: A Call to Action." The event is set for Sept. 3, 2026, at the Weslaco South Texas College campus.

Attendees will also hear about future changes to SNAP benefits.