Giovanni Lanza had a successful business buying and selling houses, but a sudden stroke caused him to stop his daily routine to focus on physical therapy. Oscar Aguilar has decades of experience in accounting, but he's now unemployed and searching for a new job. These unforeseen circumstances forced them both to seek assistance through this rough period in life, and luckily, they found a helping hand at the Tejano Center for Community Concern’s La Tiendita.
Located steps away from Precinct 4's Bayland Community Center, La Tiendita (The Little Shop, in Spanish) offers food assistance, nutrition education, social services, counseling, and resource navigation to families and neighbors throughout the Gulfton/Sharpstown region.
“Unfortunately, Texas has the second-highest rate of food insecurity in the nation. One in four children in Harris County faces food insecurity,” says Commissioner Briones. “I want us to be leading for the right reasons, not for reasons like that.”
There are approximately 41,000 households in the area, and around 50% of the families qualify as low-income. Many struggle to put food on the table. Under those circumstances, it is extremely challenging to survive, let alone thrive.
“La Tiendita Gulfton came through conversations between Commissioner Lesley Briones and Dr. Adriana Tamez, president and CEO, Tejano Center,” recalls Luis Gallegos, Director of Marketing and Communications for the Tejano Center for Community Concerns. “They were discussing opportunities for collaboration, and the dialogue started about fighting food insecurity.”
Since it opened in early 2024, La Tiendita has helped 550 clients, according to Alejandra Tobias, the program’s Interim Health Equity Coordinator. The food is provided by the Houston Food Bank and distributed at no cost to individuals and families.
“I get vegetables and fruits, as well as milk and yogurt. That’s ideal for my recovery,” says Giovanni. “I have to use a wheelchair. I can’t gain weight. I need to eat a healthy diet.”
Oscar, still job hunting, finds monthly support through La Tiendita’s offerings: up to 25 pounds of fresh and canned food, juices, and dairy products — all free of charge.
La Tiendita is more than a food pantry — it's a place where real transformation happens in people's lives. Here, residents are finding hope and stability through access to essential resources.
Gulfton, often referred to as “Harris County’s Ellis Island,” is one of the most diverse communities in Harris County. Many of the residents are first-generation immigrants who need opportunities to establish a foothold in this country or the chance to connect, thrive, and grow.
“We want to be part of that ladder of opportunity and growth,” said Gallegos. “And, at the end of the day, help families achieve self-sustainability.”
This goal is achieved when clients who initially needed support and were unemployed end up helping and being part of the solution, as well as assisting others, because they want to help those in their community who are going through similar experiences.
“We have families that feel that La Tiendita is a fabric of opportunity, and they want to give back,” said Gallegos.
Through the dedication of Precinct 4 team members and the partnership of the Tejano Center for Community Concerns, what was once an unused building in Bayland Park now serves as a hub of hope.