- New name better reflects the Food Bank’s 21-county service area
- Name change takes effect June 1, 2016
- New logo accompanies name change
On June 1, the Capital Area Food Bank of Texas will officially become the Central Texas Food Bank, a change that 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 will more than double its capacity to serve the growing need for hunger relief in Central Texas.
The Food Bank was founded in 1981 by a small group of Austinites who recognized the need for food assistance in the area. In that first year, the Food Bank distributed just 330,000 pounds of food - most of it canned goods, beans, rice and peanut butter. Since then, the organization has grown from serving just Austin to a 21 county territory that’s twice the size of Massachusetts and home to over 470,000 children, seniors and adults facing hunger. Last year the Food Bank distributed almost 34 million pounds of food, one-third of which was fresh produce, yet still fell short of meeting demand by an estimated 30%.
“The name change underscores our commitment to serving everyone in our 19,000 square mile service territory,” said Hank Perret, President and CEO of the Central Texas Food Bank. “With the help of our nearly 250 Partner Agencies, we are on the front lines of hunger relief in Central Texas from San Saba to Fairfield and from Waco to Luling. And our new stylized carrot logo illustrates our emphasis on distributing the freshest and healthiest food possible.”
On June 20th, the Food Bank will officially begin operating out of its new facility located at 6500 Metropolis Drive in the Met Center. The new facility features 2.5 times the dry storage space, seven times the refrigeration and freezer capacity, a commercial kitchen and 15 loading docks – up from just two in the current building.
“Our increased capacity comes at a crucial time,” said Perret. “ As the population of Central Texas continues to swell, so do the challenges faced by many of our neighbors - challenges that often force them to make difficult choices between paying rent, buying medication or putting food on the table. This new facility will be a big step in helping us close the hunger gap.”
ABOUT THE CENTRAL TEXAS FOOD BANK
The mission of Central Texas Food Bank is to nourish hungry people and lead the community in ending hunger. Founded in 1981, the Food Bank provides food and grocery products through a network of nearly 300 Partner Agencies and nutrition programs, serving nearly 46,000 people every week. Headquartered in Austin, the Food Bank serves 21 counties in Central Texas, an area about twice the size of Massachusetts. For more information on the Food Bank and its programs, visit www.centraltexasfoodbank.org.
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