East Texas' KETK reports that gas prices are making it harder for nonprofits to help disaster victims and foster children

Reporter: “Both nonprofits are accepting any donations they can get as they refuse to scale back, pledging to answer the call whenever and wherever help is needed”

Written by Media Matters Staff

Published

This post is part of a series chronicling news coverage of rising prices in the United States. See more here.

From a May 13, 2026, video uploaded to the YouTube channel of KETK

ASHLYN ANDERSON (REPORTER): CASA for Kids East Texas travels to see more than 500 children who are placed in foster care across the state. 

MARY JO BURGESS (CASA FOR KIDS EAST TEXAS DIRECTOR): The bulk of our children are placed in Houston. So you can imagine that there's an increase in cost to us. 

ANDERSON: As gas prices continue to soar, the nonprofit says they are significantly over their travel budget for 2026.

BURGESS: Travel budget for staff is 30,000 a year, and we're already about 20% over. 

ANDERSON: That amounts to $6,000 over with seven more months still left to go in the year. 

BURGESS: We expect that that trend is going to continue for the duration of this year and then also into next year. So then fundraising and grant writing and contributions become critical to make sure that we don't drop that level of service. 

PATRICK JOHNSON (JSTAR MINISTRIES): We have to learn to adjust and adapt like they teach in the military.

ANDERSON: Patrick Johnson with JStar Ministries will mark his 81st trip this weekend, delivering critical emergency supplies to tornado victims in Mississippi. 

JOHNSON: Right now, tank of gas will run me about a $110. 

ANDERSON: With more than 20 years of helping people across the nation, Johnson says he will not slow down. 

JOHNSON: My mindset is that, you know, I need gas, and I'm going to go wherever I need to go regardless. 

BURGESS: We must go visit them in person.

ANDERSON: Both nonprofits are accepting any donations they can get as they refuse to scale back, pledging to answer the call whenever and wherever help is needed.