Austin, Texas - Central Texas Food Bank is thrilled to announce significant expansions to its summer meal program this year, aiming to serve more meals at numerous new sites throughout Central Texas. With summer on the horizon, the Food Bank is calling on community members to join in on an exciting volunteer opportunity that promises to help feed those in need while offering an enriching experience.
Summer meal prep shifts are available from Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 12 p.m. and 1 to 3:30 p.m., with the greatest need for volunteers running May 20 through August 6. The Food Bank welcomes individuals, families and groups to join this vital effort. To sign up for a shift in the Community Kitchen, please visit https://tinyurl.com/ctfbkitchen. For those interested in group volunteering, a request form is available here.
Summer is a critical time for many families who rely on school meals to keep children nourished. Recognizing this, the Food Bank is bolstering its efforts to ensure no child goes hungry during these months. “We are excited about the expansion of our summer meal output and the increased number of children and families we will be able to serve daily. It’s a big step forward in our mission to end hunger in Central Texas,” said Sari Vatske, President and CEO at Central Texas Food Bank.
To make this vision a reality, the Food Bank is in need of over 30 volunteers per shift in its Community Kitchen, a 4,200-square-foot commercial facility and heart of the operation, equipped with large-scale production equipment. Volunteers can hone their culinary and organizational skills while playing a crucial role in preparing and assembling meals, ensuring food safety standards, and performing essential tasks to keep operations running smoothly.
“Volunteering is not only about making sandwiches or chopping vegetables; it’s about coming together as a community to provide nourishment and hope during a challenging time for our neighbors in need,” added Mark Jackson, Chief Development Officer at Central Texas Food Bank. “We see incredible support from the community during the holiday season, and we’re optimistic that the same spirit of generosity and action will shine through once again. Hunger doesn’t take a summer break, and neither do we.”
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About Central Texas Food Bank
The mission of Central Texas Food Bank is to nourish hungry people and lead the community in the fight against hunger. Founded in 1981, the Food Bank provides food and grocery products through a network of nearly 250 nonprofit community partners and nutrition programs, serving about 70,000 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 centraltexasfoodbank.org.
