Powering the largest hunger relief charity in Texas involves many moving parts, including sourcing donations, distributing meals, and more. While the concept of "food banking" may not immediately evoke thoughts of technology, the reality is that the Central Texas Food Bank relies heavily on our information technology (IT) infrastructure to facilitate daily operations. This month, we're proud to spotlight David Hernandez, our dedicated IT Coordinator, as the Team Member of the Month. David's efforts behind the scenes ensure the seamless functioning of our systems, allowing our team to focus on our primary goal of ending hunger in Central Texas.
David grew up in El Salvador and moved to the United States with his mom and three siblings when he was 13. As a single mother, his mom worked tirelessly to provide for the family, giving David a deep understanding of food insecurity. From a young age, David was fascinated with taking things apart and putting them back together, a passion that led him to pursue a career in IT. After attending Austin Community College, he gained valuable experience in various IT roles, including positions at People's Community Clinic and a tech company, where he developed his skills in troubleshooting and managing applications.
At the Food Bank, David supports almost 170 team members, managing various technology devices, including scan guns, laptops, iPads, and cell phones. His unwavering commitment to ensuring the smooth operation of our technology directly impacts our ability to serve the community efficiently. "I don't work directly with [our neighbors], but helping in the background, in the backend, is rewarding for me," David says. Reliable technology, internet access, and functional hardware and software are essential for fulfilling our commitments to the community, such as assisting with online benefits applications, maintaining accurate food inventories, and providing summer meals to children across our 21-county service area.
David's genuine enthusiasm for interacting with people and effecting positive change through his work is evident. Whether he's reconfiguring warehouse scanners or updating our cloud-based antivirus software, David's contributions are invaluable. Elias, our Benefits + Emergency Services Manager, shares, "The IT role can be monotonous and difficult, as the human element can be troublesome or difficult to deal with. David navigates these challenges compassionately and with respect and always maintains a positive attitude towards his coworkers and those he serves." We're incredibly thankful to have a patient and hardworking teammate like David at the Food Bank.
