Program offers nutritious food, education and support to AISD families in need of assistance
AUSTIN, TX – The Central Texas Food Bank (CTFB) is ensuring Austin ISD students, and their families, have access to the nutritious food they need to learn, grow, and thrive. On January 14, the CTFB will host an official ribbon cutting for its new Feeding Futures School Pantry at Galindo Elementary School. The pantry will be open to all AISD families and features a unique shopping experience complete with fresh produce, protein, dairy, and pantry staples.
“We know that one in five children in Travis County don’t know from where they will get their next meal. We not only aim to alleviate that stress on a family, but we also seek to help improve attendance, performance and behavior in the classroom by providing the necessary nutrition needed to thrive,” said Sari M. Vatske, CTFB President and CEO. “By meeting people where they are, we can more effectively support those in need. This program goes beyond feeding; it sets children up for success later in life.”
CTFB launched the Feeding Futures School Pantry program in 2024, expanding partnerships with school districts to establish food pantries on K-12 campuses. Participating schools are Title I, primarily elementary schools, and experience a high rate of students enrolled in free/reduced meal programs. The pantry at Galindo Elementary School is the ninth pantry CTFB has opened in its 21-county service area. The pantries provide children and families with fresh, nutritious food in a familiar, accessible location — their child’s school — removing the transportation barriers many families face when seeking food assistance. With a market-style setup, families can select foods
that best meet their unique needs. Since the first pantry opened in January of 2024, the program has distributed over 75,000 meals through eight school pantries, supporting students and their families where they are.
“In Austin ISD we support families across the city that have varying needs beyond academics,” Austin ISD Superintendent Matias Segura said. “Partnerships like the Galindo Pantry with CTFB make it easier for our families to get what they need and keep their kids nourished and ready to learn. I’m grateful to live in a city like Austin that helps us support every family in our district, bringing Strong Schools, Stronger Austin to life.”
Travis County has a high rate of childhood food insecurity at 20.9 percent, which is higher than the national average of 17.9 percent. CTFB partnered with Austin ISD to identify a school campus with a high volume of students experiencing food insecurity. At Galindo Elementary, 61 percent of students rely on free and reduced lunch and an estimated 88 percent are currently living in an economically disadvantaged home.
CTFB continues to assess its entire 21-county service area to expand existing and develop new programs to serve its neighbors.
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About the Central Texas Food Bank
The Central Texas Food Bank (CTFB) is the leading hunger-relief nonprofit in Central Texas, working to provide immediate and equitable access to nutritious food for individuals across its 21- county service area. Through a combination of direct-service programs and a network of approximately 240 nonprofit community partners, CTFB supports over 530,000 food-insecure individuals annually. To learn more about its impactful work and programs, visit centraltexasfoodbank.org.
About Texas Capital
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