Emergency Response

The Central Texas Food Bank has a long history of responding to emergencies and disasters, providing vital relief for our 21-county service area, through more than 250 partner agencies and direct programs.

Emergency Response

Central Texas Food Bank Weather Emergency Response

The Central Texas Food Bank closely monitors weather conditions and is prepared to mobilize should the need arise. We are coordinating with our network of partner agencies and government entities throughout our 21 counties to ensure our community has the resources necessary to navigate a weather event. We will provide updates as necessary.

In response to the increased need in our community the Central Texas Food Bank continues to offer mobile food pantry distributions. Some distributions are operating as a drive-thru and food will be loaded directly into your vehicle’s trunk. Please allow appropriate space in your trunk before arriving at the distribution. For upcoming distributions, click here to download the Mobile Pantry Calendar. 

Find Food Near You Today

In addition to our mobile food pantry distributions, the Central Texas Food Bank leverages a network of more than 250 partner agencies. To find a location near you click here to use our Find Food Now tool. Click to download a list of all our partner locations in English and Spanish. Pantry times are subject to change. For questions, contact the number listed for your pantry, or reach out to the Central Texas Food Bank.

Help Applying for Benefits and Emergency Services

Help Applying for SNAP

To find your local HHSC office and determine eligibility visit https://www.yourtexasbenefits.com/ or call 2-1-1. For assistance determining eligibility, call Central Texas Food Bank at 1-855-366-3401.

Help Applying for Other Government Assistance Programs

For eligibility requirements and help applying for government benefits including Medicaid, CHIP, TANF, Healthy Texas Women, and Medicare Savings Program visit https://www.yourtexasbenefits.com/ or call 2-1-1. For assistance determining eligibility, call Central Texas Food Bank at 1-855-366-3401.

Our Support Programs

Mobile Food Pantry

By taking the food directly to clients, our mobile food pantries fill geographic and service gaps in emergency food assistance by providing Central Texans in need with basic staples, fruits and vegetables, and frozen foods where local food assistance services cannot keep up with demand. View the Mobile Pantry Calendar for upcoming mobile food distributions near you.

Benefits and Emergency Services

Our Social Services team provides one-on-one application assistance to individuals who may qualify for federal nutrition programs and other benefits that will help stabilize their lives. Click here to learn more and schedule an appointment.

Commodity Supplemental Food Program

The Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP) provides each participating low-income senior age 60 or older with a free monthly box of groceries. Every box includes 25-30 pounds of staples including cereals, juices, proteins, milk, grain, cheese, and canned fruits and vegetables. Click here to see the CSFP calendar.

Fresh Food For Families

Fresh Food For Families provides free monthly distributions of fruits, vegetables and other fresh foods to low-income families. These distributions supplement existing grocery budgets with much-needed nutritious foods. Click here to see the Fresh Foods for Families calendar.

Healthy Options for the Elderly

The mission of Healthy Options for the Elderly (HOPE) is to reduce hunger among low-income seniors age 55 or older by providing them with free monthly distributions of healthy, shelf-stable foods. Each month, HOPE clients receive a 15- to 20-pound bag of non-perishable groceries as nutritious additions to their existing diets. Click here to see the HOPE calendar.

Home Delivery Program

The Central Texas Food Bank is offering a home delivery program in Travis and Williamson Counties in partnership with Austin Public Health Neighborhood Services Unit, Round Rock Area Serving Center and Amazon. Click here to learn more about the Home Delivery Program.

Culinary Training Program

This hands-on job-training program is designed to teach basic culinary skills, cooking techniques, knife skills, equipment operation and professional development. Our program provides students with real-world experience in our state-of-the-art kitchen, preparing our students for a career in the food service industry upon graduation. Click here to learn more about the Culinary Training Program.

CHOICES

CHOICES is a nutrition education program that helps individuals and families make smart choices at mealtimes. The classes help people eligible for SNAP (food stamps) make healthy food choices within a limited budget and choose active lifestyles. All classes are free and open to qualified individuals. Click here to learn more about class registration and to use our recipe index.

Garden

The Food Bank garden pairs food production for hunger relief with educational programming, helping individuals to supplement their diet by growing their own nutritious food. Registration for Garden education classes coming soon!

Join our community in coming together to feed families.

Register to Volunteer

The Central Texas Food Bank is a lifeline for thousands of families needing food assistance. We still need volunteers to help prepare food donations for distribution and distribute food at mobile food pantries. Volunteers must sign up online prior to showing up to help out. Click here to volunteer.

Host a Virtual Food Drive

If you'd like to help from home, please consider the option of doing a virtual food drive (VFD) to help raise money online. Funds raised through a VFD are flexible – the Food Bank can put your dollars toward the area of greatest need, which helps us prepare for and respond to the needs of our community, in times of crisis and all year long. Find tips and templates in our Virtual Food Drive Toolkit here.

Host an Emergency Food Distribution

Are you a Community Partner interested in hosting an emergency food distribution as part of disaster response? Please click here to submit the request form and our Team will be in touch with you.

Disaster Recovery Resources for Austin and Travis County

Clearance of Debris on Private Property

Austin Resource Recovery (ARR) has increased the help it is getting from contractors to speed up storm debris collection efforts. ARR customers can request a collection of large storm debris by calling 3-1-1 (or 512-974-2000) or submitting a storm debris collection request through the Austin 3-1-1 mobile app or at Austin311.org. More information on debris removal can be found at AustinTexas.gov/StormDebris.

Power Restoration and Limb Removal

Utility crews continue to work on removing limbs around power lines. If cut limbs land on private property, property owners are responsible for discarding these limbs. Please bring all limbs to the curb for collection by Austin Resource Recovery. Anyone who is physically unable to move limbs should contact Austin 3-1-1 for support by dialing 3-1-1 from a phone, using the Austin 3-1-1 mobile app or at Austin311.org. Additional help may be available through the Austin Disaster Relief Network.

We are working to nourish our community, in times of crisis and all year long.

We pride ourselves in providing essential services to our neighbors in need and our goal is always to provide food to the neighbors that need it most. We know that disruptions from work or school can cause strain on low-income families, making our services that much more critical.

Thank you for your continued support of the Food Bank. As we serve those in need in our community, we look forward to working with you.

Contact Us

(512) 282-2111
6500 Metropolis Drive
Austin, TX 78744

Get In Touch

Stay Connected

Volunteer

Volunteers are essential to the mission
of the Food Bank.

Learn More
"To nourish hungry people and lead the community in the fight against hunger."