- Donations needed to raise 1 million meals for kids, seniors and families during period of extreme need
- Thanks to matching gift sponsors, every $1 donated during the campaign equals 8 meals
Austin, TX, June 20, 2018 – The Central Texas Food Bank became the epicenter of the fight against hunger in Central Texas today with a special event to boost awareness of its “Summer Meals that Matter” campaign. The goal of the campaign is to provide 1 million meals to help nourish children, seniors and families during the tough summer months.
“Hunger continues to be a big problem in our 21 county service area. This is especially true during the summer, despite our best efforts,” said Derrick Chubbs, President & CEO of the Central Texas Food Bank. “More of our neighbors face hunger during the summer than at any other time of year. Thousands of kids lose access to free or reduced price meals at school and higher utility bills force families and seniors to make tough budget choices, making money for nutritious food hard to come by.”
Donations to the Food Bank during the crucial summer months will help provide meals to thousands of Central Texans facing hunger and help to close a “hunger gap” that leaves nearly 30 percent of our neighbors who are at risk of hunger without food assistance in their time of need. Thanks to the generosity of our summer matching gift donors, the Gates and Stumberg families, the Food Bank will be able to provide 8 meals for every dollar contributed, making every donation go twice as far as usual.
During today’s kickoff event, a group of about 65 kids from the City of Austin’s Oswaldo A.B. Cantu/Pan American Recreation Center—which is also a Food Bank summer meals feeding site—participated in a program that included hands-on activities in fitness, nutrition, gardening and food preparation, followed by a nutritious lunch.
The event also featured a large group of volunteers from Intel, who helped out by sorting food in the Food Bank’s warehouse and preparing meals in the commercial kitchen.
Austin Mayor Pro Tem Kathy Tovo was also on hand to help out with the activities for kids and to lend support to the fight against hunger.
Donations to help the Food Bank raise one million meals this summer can be made at centraltexasfoodbank.org. The “Summer Meals that Matter” campaign runs through August 31.
