Central Texas Food Bank

Food Bank
6500 Metropolis Dr, Austin, Texas 78744

Additional Support

The Central Texas Food Bank offers a wide range of programs:

Mobile Pantry: To find a mobile food pantry near you, enter your ZIP code at their "Find Food Now" tool at centraltexasfoodbank.org/get-help.

Help with SNAP: Staff can help you apply for SNAP (food stamps), Medicaid, CHIP, TANF, Healthy Texas Women, and Medicare Savings Program. Call the Help Line Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at 1-855-366-3401, email snap@centraltexasfoodbank.org, or schedule an in-person or virtual appointment at their website. To apply online, visit the Your Texas Benefits website.

Help for Kids: Programs include the Summer Food Service Program, Kids Cafe (after-school meals at 22 sites), Feeding Futures School Pantries at participating schools, BackPack (weekend meal bags for children), and the National School Lunch Program.

Help for Older Adults (Age 60+):

Two monthly grocery programs are available through partner sites:

  • Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP): A free monthly box of shelf-stable groceries, weighing 25 to 30 pounds, for adults 60 and older who meet income guidelines. Bring an ID showing your age. This is a first-come, first-served program.
  • Healthy Options Program for the Elderly (HOPE): Monthly groceries of 15 to 20 pounds for adults 60 and older who need food support. No income proof is required.

Nutrition Education: Free, bilingual health and wellness classes on nutrition, cooking, and gardening are offered to organizations serving low-income or food-insecure populations. Classes require a minimum of 10 participants and are available in English or Spanish. For more information, call (512) 220-2709 or email choices@centraltexasfoodbank.org.

Workforce Training Programs:

Free training in 2 areas:

  • Culinary Training (11 weeks): Hands-on experience in a commercial kitchen, food safety certification (ServSafe), and job placement assistance.
  • Warehouse Training (6 weeks, full-time): Warehouse operations, forklift certification, and career development support.

Applicants must be 18 or older with a high school diploma or GED (or willingness to complete one). Questions? Email WFD@centraltexasfoodbank.org.

Ways to Give

There are many ways to support the Central Texas Food Bank:

  • Donate online, by phone, or by mail: Make a one-time, monthly, or tribute gift. Donate online at their website, by phone at (512) 282-2111, or by mail (payable to Central Texas Food Bank, 6500 Metropolis Drive, Austin, TX 78744). You can also give via credit card, ACH transfer, Venmo, PayPal, cryptocurrency, or a Donor-Advised Fund.
  • Donate food: Individuals with under 1,500 pounds can drop off food at the warehouse Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. No appointment is needed.
  • Host a food or virtual food drive: Use their free Virtual Food Drive tool to raise meals online.
  • Matching gifts: Check if your employer will match your donation or volunteer hours.
  • Shop to Give and corporate giving programs are also available.

For questions about donating, contact the Development Office at contribute@centraltexasfoodbank.org or call (512) 282-2111.

How to Join the Team?

Volunteers are the heart and soul of the Central Texas Food Bank. There are several ways to get involved:

  • Volunteer in the Warehouse: Sort and inspect donated food for distribution. Weekday and weekend shifts available for individuals and groups.
  • Volunteer in the Community Kitchen: Help with on-site food preparation for programs like Kids Cafe and Summer Meals.
  • Volunteer at a Mobile Food Pantry: Help distribute food at community sites and assist with setup and teardown.
  • Volunteer at Fresh Harvest Farm: Help with composting, weeding, and harvesting produce outdoors.
  • Fresh Harvest Market Volunteer: Help restock shelves and keep the market clean and welcoming.
  • Volunteer Ambassador, Deliver Donations, and more: Additional roles are available.

Companies can volunteer as groups. Families with children are welcome too. To sign up, visit cafb.volunteerhub.com.

The food bank is also hiring paid staff. They offer a full benefits package including fully paid medical, dental, and vision plans, paid time off, a 403b retirement plan with employer matching, an on-site gym, and more. To apply, visit their careers page at centraltexasfoodbank.org/about-us/careers.

Nearby Food Pantries