Father of two relies on Cougar Cupboard to stay afloat

Between childcare, classes, and everyday expenses, money gets tight fast for Pablo Martinez. That's why he relies on Cougar Cupboard, a food pantry at the University of Houston.

The Cougar Cupboard, in partnership with the Houston Food Bank, gives students access to fresh groceries and pantry staples. For student parents like Martinez, it's one less thing to worry about.

"The Houston Food Bank is helping my family and I relieving some of that stress that a lot of families feel," Martinez said.

For the 45th year, ABC13 is collecting donations for the Houston Food Bank at its most critical time of year, when too many people are experiencing hunger.

About ABC13 Share Your Holidays

What started as an idea to put a food drive on TV for an hour has morphed into a Houston-area wide event going strong 45 years later as the ABC13 Share Your Holidays Food Drive.

Since 1980, the year the drive launched at ABC13, millions upon millions of cans of food have been collected through Share Your Holidays.

As the need grows, there are easy ways to help our neighbors if you're in a position to do so.

- Text "SYH2025" to 71777