Grant allows CTFB to invest in refrigerator and freezer units for 12 nonprofit community partners creating capacity to provide more fresh produce to neighbors in the 21-county region.
Austin, TX (Dec. 6) — Central Texas Food Bank (CTFB) invested in 27 new cold storage units to build the capacity of 12 of its partner agencies to provide more fresh produce and healthy food to neighbors in need. On December 6th, the CTFB is hosting a celebration to gift the cold storage units to awardees.
According to USDA’s My Plate, the recommended dietary guidelines for Americans states that half of your plate should be composed of fruits and vegetables. CTFB's donation of cold storage units enables its partners to readily accept increased quantities of fruits, vegetables, dairy, and perishable food items from The Food Bank on a weekly basis. According to the City of Austin’s 2022 State of Food System Report, 84 percent of Travis County residents don’t obtain the necessary recommendation of fruits and vegetables.
To help close this gap, CTFB aims for 50 percent of its food distributions to be produce, and this initiative actively reinforces and contributes to this goal. The state-of-the-art refrigeration units feature glass front doors, showcasing the fresh food which increases the likelihood of customers selecting these items.
“Investing in cold storage infrastructure is a commitment to nourishing our communities and increasing healthy outcomes. By ensuring our partners can easily receive, store and display fresh produce means neighbors in need across our 21-county region can fill their plates with nutritious meals every day,” said Sari Vatske, President and CEO of the Central Texas Food Bank.
Six of the 12 awardees attended at the event, including Lorena Sheppard’s Heart, Family of Faith Worship Center’s Community Food Pantry, Greater Love Food Pantry, The Joe Roland Community Center, Blanco Good Samaritan Center, and Westover Hills Church.
CTFB, a lifeline for about 65,000 Central Texans weekly, aims to ensure that no one in our community goes hungry, and is currently spending about $1,000,000 each month toward this goal. This Holiday season, food insecurity is something no family or individual in our community should have to worry about. Those visiting our community partners to select groceries will have even more choices for fresh and healthy produce than before.
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 65,000 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.
Learn More about the F.R.E.S.H. Future
Donate to Central Texas Food Bank
Volunteer with Central Texas Food Bank
