History
1981
The Capital Area Food Bank Inc. is created by individuals from the United Urban Council (the predecessor of today’s Interfaith Action of Central Texas (iACT)) and other concerned Austin residents. They recognized the need for emergency feeding assistance, as well as the availability of surplus food from various food companies and grocery stores that might otherwise go to waste. Over 90 percent of food banks are established in the U.S. after 1981.
1982
The Food Bank is incorporated under the Texas Nonprofit Corporation Act and became an affiliate of America’s Second Harvest (now Feeding America). The Capital Area Food Bank was the second food bank in Texas; the first opened in San Antonio in 1979. One month after we began operations, a third food bank opened in Dallas.
In the Food Bank’s first year (1982), fewer than 330,000 pounds of food were recovered, stored and distributed.
1991
Awarded Food Bank of the Year by America’s Second Harvest (now Feeding America).
1994
A donation of 4.5 acres of land kicks off a capital campaign to build a new Food Bank distribution center at 8201 S. Congress Ave.
1999
Awarded Food Bank of the Year by America’s Second Harvest (now Feeding America).
2005
The CHOICES nutrition education program is added to the Food Bank’s programs to help low-income families make smarter choices at the grocery store. The program is funded in part through the Food Stamp program (now called SNAP).
On September 2, 2005, in one day, more than 1 million pounds of water, diapers and food are collected in the single biggest food drive ever held in Austin in response to our Hurricane Katrina relief work.
2006
A new vision “to end hunger in Central Texas” is unveiled as part of a new strategic plan. After 25 years, the Food Bank revises its mission to focus on advocacy and leadership in the community.
2008
The Food Bank responds to increased need due to the economic downturn by launching a mobile food pantry program.
2014
The capital campaign goes public to fund the construction of a new building and build capacity for the Food Bank.
2016
The Food Bank rebrands as the Central Texas Food Bank, which emphasizes the organization’s commitment to serving everyone in its vast 21-county service territory. With the new name comes a new logo and color palette designed to illustrate the Food Bank’s emphasis on distributing the freshest and healthiest food possible. The rebranding coincides with the Food Bank’s mid-June move into its new 135,000-square-foot facility that more than doubles its capacity to serve the growing need for hunger relief in Central Texas.
The Food Bank distributes 38 million pounds of food. Derrick Chubbs joins the Food Bank as the organization’s 5th President and CEO.
2017
For the first time, the Food Bank produces meals for summer and after-school programming in-house in the new commercial kitchen. New programs, including the Diabetes Box program, CSFP and the Healthy Pantry Initiative, are launched to help better serve the Food Bank’s clients.
The Food Bank distributes just over 45 million pounds of food.
2019
The Food Bank swings into action quickly to create special food distribution events to assist furloughed workers during the government shutdown.
The Food Bank distributes 52 million pounds of food.
2020
Driven by unprecedented demand created by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Food Bank revamps its distribution model to maximize safety and efficiency.
The Food Bank distributes 64 million pounds of food.
2022
The Food Bank observes its 40th year of serving Central Texans in need.
Sari Vatske joins the Food Bank as its sixth President and CEO.
