Killeen, Texas – Before dawn Thursday morning, military families began lining up outside the Armed Services YMCA food pantry in Harker Heights, just miles from Fort Hood. By 5 a.m., the line wrapped around the building—an unprecedented sight for the nonprofit that serves thousands of Central Texas military households.
By mid-morning, the pantry’s shelves were empty. “We had a 34% increase this week over past weeks,” said Dorene Ocamb, the Armed Services YMCA’s chief brand and development officer, in comments first reported by Military Times. “We expected an increase, but didn’t quite expect this.”
The surge in demand followed the federal government shutdown that began at 12:01 a.m. Wednesday after Congress failed to pass a continuing resolution to keep agencies funded. Troops received their October 1st paychecks, but uncertainty looms over whether the October 15th pay cycle will be disrupted.
Anxiety Hits Home in Central Texas
Fort Hood, one of the largest U.S. Army installations in the world, anchors the economy of Central Texas. When military families face financial disruption, the ripple effects hit Killeen, Harker Heights, and surrounding communities almost immediately.
“There’s a lot of anticipatory anxiety around potentially losing a paycheck,” Ocamb told Military Times. Families who rely on steady pay are taking precautions: stretching food budgets, delaying bills, and turning to nonprofits for help.
Normally, the pantry’s food supply lasts until early afternoon. On Thursday, shelves were bare by 10 a.m. Hundreds of families—many with young children—came through in just a few hours. Diapers and wipes, not usually available at the site, were distributed to mothers and expectant mothers as needs spiked.
Political Gridlock in Washington
While Democrats and Republicans traded blame this week, the breakdown came down to one central issue: House Republicans passed a short-term “clean” continuing resolution to keep the government open while negotiations continued, but Senate Democrats rejected it, insisting on adding billions in new spending provisions.
As a result, non-essential government functions were shuttered, and military families are left bracing for missed paychecks.
Republicans from Texas have been outspoken in their criticism. Rep. Roger Williams (R-TX), chairman of the House Small Business Committee, said Democrats are “holding our troops hostage to force more reckless spending.” Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) added that “a clean CR would keep the lights on and keep paychecks flowing. It’s the Democrats’ refusal to compromise that is pushing military families into food pantry lines.”
Food and Childcare Relief
The Armed Services YMCA in Killeen, which has two distribution locations, prioritizes junior enlisted families but does not restrict food aid by rank. Families can take up to 25 pounds of shelf-stable items, dairy, frozen protein, and fresh produce, choosing what fits their needs. “Food is one of those basic needs. If you show up and need food, we’re going to serve you,” Ocamb said.
In addition to food, ASYMCA announced it will allow parents to defer childcare payments at its centers until military pay resumes—a critical measure for dual-income military households.
Texas Bears a Larger Burden
With more than 163,000 active-duty service members, Texas has one of the highest concentrations of military families in the nation. What happens here sets the tone for bases nationwide. Similar scenes of food insecurity are playing out across the country—in San Diego, Norfolk, Fort Bragg, and Alaska—as nonprofits scramble to increase the frequency of their distributions.
But in Texas, the impact is magnified. Fort Hood alone is home to tens of thousands of soldiers and dependents. When paychecks stop, the economic shock ripples not just through the base, but through grocery stores, childcare providers, landlords, and small businesses that depend on military customers.
A Message to Military Families
Ocamb’s advice to families was direct: “Go out and seek out food pantry help. It may help alleviate a line item in their budget,” she said. That relief, she noted, can free up cash for rent, mortgages, or car payments.
Families without access to an ASYMCA pantry are encouraged to use FoodFinder.us, which lists food pantries nationwide by ZIP code. Banks, credit unions, and military relief societies are also preparing to assist families if the shutdown drags on.
The Bottom Line
The faces of the shutdown are not lobbyists or politicians in Washington—they are the military families in Central Texas waiting in line for food before sunrise. While Democrats in the Senate refuse to accept a clean resolution that would keep the government funded, those serving in uniform and their children are left bearing the consequences.
- This article has been revised to reflect the correct name of Fort Hood, formally known as Fort Cavazos.