Commissioner Lesley Briones and the Tejano Center for Community Concerns proudly announce the opening of La Tiendita at Bayland Park. This program will improve access to free, high-quality food and enhance health equity in Gulfton, Sharpstown, and neighboring communities.

With Texas ranking second in food insecurity nationwide, this initiative tackles urgent needs in a community where over half of families are low-income.

“No one should go hungry in the most prosperous nation in the world. Access to fresh, nutritious food and health resources must be a fundamental right, not a privilege,” said Commissioner Briones. “I am energized to bring La Tiendita to Bayland Park, and grateful to our partners at the Tejano Center, Houston Food Bank, and American Heart Association. This program is a critical step in our ongoing work to build a healthier, more resilient community where every family can thrive.”

La Tiendita at Bayland Park provides the following free services in English and Spanish:

• Food assistance
• Nutrition education
• Cooking demonstrations
• Health equity programming
• Resource navigation assistance
• Social services need assessments
• Goal attainment counseling

“This new La Tiendita location underscores Tejano Center's commitment to addressing the social determinants of health while building on the strength and assets of the Gulfton community,” said Dr. Adriana Tamez, CEO of the Tejano Center. “More than just meeting critical needs, La Tiendita exemplifies our belief in the power of partnerships and collective action to create lasting impact. Together with the vibrant residents and dedicated partners of Gulfton, in particular, Harris County Commissioner Lesley Briones, we are Making it Happen Together —building pathways to greater opportunity, health, and well-being for everyone.”

La Tiendita at Bayland Park represents a significant step toward improving health outcomes in Precinct 4 where Black and Latino residents face higher rates of chronic illnesses like obesity, diabetes, and heart disease – all of which better nutrition can help manage.

“The American Heart Association is proud to be a part of the collaborative efforts that the Tejano Center and Commissioner Briones bring to the Gulfton area,” said Heather Butscher, Vice President of American Heart Association – Greater Houston. “Bayland Park has been a gathering place for generations in Southwest Houston. It has been exciting to see the improvements to the park and now the addition of a multitude of community support services that residents can receive while visiting here.”

“When we all work together, each contributing our own part, big things can happen, and that is the spirit of La Tiendita,” says Brian Greene, Houston Food Bank President & CEO. “Houston Food Bank is honored to work with the Tejano Center, Harris County and American Heart Association on this exciting new project that will create community connection in the Gulfton area centered around healthy food, education and resources aimed at wellness.”

La Tiendita at Bayland is part of a broader commitment by Commissioner Briones to address the root causes of health inequities and provide resources that uplift and empower the Gulfton community.

The Health Hub at the Bayland Community Center includes the Baylor Teen Health Clinic, Harris County Public Health’s Diabetes Prevention Program and Mobile Dental Clinic, Common Market’s food distribution program, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension’s Walk & Talk Series, daily fitness programming, and onsite social workers offering free case management and resource navigation.

The Fonteno Senior Education Center, also located in Bayland Park, hosts Harris Health’s telemedicine center for virtual physician visits and Harris County Public Health’s ACCESS Harris County program, which provides wraparound support for community members facing health, financial, housing, substance abuse, and social challenges.

La Tiendita at Bayland Park will open to the public Monday, December 2, by appointment only. For more information or to schedule an appointment, please visit www.tejanocenter.org.