The facility is set to open in late 2025
Waco, TX, Oct. 1, 2024 – The Waco City Council has approved re-zoning the 11.3-acre property at 1402 Gholson Road during their meeting earlier this evening. The Council’s decision clears the way for The Central Texas Food Bank (CTFB) to construct a new major food gathering, preparation and distribution hub to serve a band of counties stretching from Mills across McLennan to Freestone County. The facility is the second largest investment CTFB has made in its history as it works to address food insecurity in the region. This new hub is part of CTFB's holistic approach to solving hunger today while building long-term solutions for the future.
The decision to establish the Waco Hub was informed by an in-depth Community Needs Assessment conducted by CTFB that revealed unique hunger challenges faced in the Heart of Texas region. Despite a diverse ecosystem of partners dedicated to enhancing food access, food insecurity in the area remains higher than the national and regional averages with a 19% overall food insecurity rate and a staggering 24.7% among children. The new hub’s location means fresh foods can be distributed at a higher and faster volume throughout McLennan and its neighboring counties.
“The new Waco-area hub will be a transformative step in closing the meal gap and creating a lasting impact,” said Dillon Meek, Former Waco Mayor/COO of Cromwell Commercial Group. “Our community has consistently demonstrated resilience and strength, and I’m proud to support this critical investment in creating the path for a brighter future for all our neighbors.”
Key challenges contributing to food insecurity in the region include a decline in full-service supermarkets and farmland, as well as ongoing obstacles accessing federal nutrition programs despite relatively high enrollment rates. The Central Texas Food Bank is uniquely positioned to address these challenges by convening government, agriculture, and the culinary industries to create the critical access points to meet our neighbors where they are.
“Collaboration is at the core of our mission so it's fitting that this Waco facility, a new milestone in the organization's history, will bring together and serve a community," said Sari Vatske, President & CEO of Central Texas Food Bank. "What started as the Capital Area Food Bank, evolved into the Central Texas Food Bank because we wanted to highlight the entirety of those we serve throughout 21 counties in Central Texas. This investment in the northern part of our service territory will not only be a boon for the Waco area, but also for the surrounding counties. It provides the ability to foster deeper relationships in the community and within the food system. No one in Central Texas should ever go without food and this new investment will help ensure that reality comes to fruition.”
For more information about the Central Texas Food Bank’s new project, please visit centraltexasfoodbank.org/waco-hub.
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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.
