Our Texas Food Banks are experiencing a dramatic increase in the need for services as more people are impacted by economic changes.
Banks in Central Texas and Houston converted their distribution model to mobile pantries during the pandemic and offer drive-through settings wherever it is safe and practical to do so. These are much-needed locations in rural areas and are often seeking volunteers.
The holiday season is a prime time to give back to the community and those in need. It’s also a time of year when “time” matters most.
We’ve compiled a list of 20 food banks around our Patten Title offices that need volunteers, both in-person and virtually. You can sign up yourself, your family, or even a group of volunteers like a scout troop or church group to help out.
Show your heart and soul during the holidays with donations of food, working in the warehouse, or distributing to families in need.
ACROSS THE STATE
- Feeding Texas
- San Antonio Food Bank
- Tarrant Area Food Bank
- West Texas Food Bank
GULF COAST
- Food Bank of the Golden Crescent
CENTRAL TEXAS
- Bastrop County Emergency Food Pantry
- The Caring Place
- Caritas of Austin
- Central Texas Food Bank
- Circle of Hope Community Center
- Hays County Food Bank
- Hill County Community Ministries
- Hope Food Pantry
- Hutto Resource Center
- Joseph’s Food Pantry
- Micah 6 of Austin
- Round Rock Area Serving Center
- Shepherd’s Heart
- The Helping Center of Marble Falls
- Travis County Community Centers
Visit our blog post for more volunteering ideas during the holiday season.
ACROSS THE STATE
Feeding Texas reaches 254 counties and serves over five million people. In addition to social services outreach, Feeding Texas advocates for public policy changes in favor of those with food insecurity, provides assistance during disaster recovery, helps to advocate for state nutrition programs, and helps eligible families apply for and understand needed assistance.
The food bank donates resources, including upskilling and wellness education, to 100,000 individuals per week. In addition to regular farmers markets and fundraising events, the San Antonio Food Bank hosts the annual Turkey Trot 5K to raise money for its programs.
TAFB serves 13 counties in North Texas, and in 2020, volunteers donated more than 60,000 hours of their time to serve these communities. Volunteers unable to provide time in person are encouraged to host a virtual food drive or donate through grocery shopping donations.
Using a network of more than 100 partners across 34,000 square miles of Texas, the food bank provides for kids, seniors and families. Volunteers are needed on pantry days and to assemble food and educational kits.
GULF COAST
With more than 100 agencies in 11 county areas on the gulf coast, Food Bank of the Golden Crescent offers programs specific to seniors and kids. In addition to a bi-weekly food bank, money is raised for programs through regular events and farmers markets.
CENTRAL TEXAS
Serving Bastrop County, the Bastrop County Emergency Food Pantry dished out more than 457,000 pounds of food last year. The group also provides rent and utility assistance.
The Caring Place provides food and financial assistance to people in need in central Texas. You can also donate clothes, gently used toys and games, most kitchen supplies, small furniture, and medical equipment.
Devoted to the homeless population, Caritas of Austin has served more than 34,000 lunches and nearly 19,000 meals. Caritas also offers classes, provides assistance to veterans, and builds employment plans for each client.
The largest hunger-relief charity in Central Texas, the Central Texas Food Bank delivered nearly 54 million meals last year. Volunteers can raise money, host food drives, or even help hands-on with the gardener.
Located in Pflugerville, Circle of Hope provides food, educational resources, and family assistance to people in need in Central Texas. Volunteers wishing to help with food distributions should be over the age of 16. The Circle of Hope food bank is open Monday-Friday from 10 a.m.-noon.
A food assistance program in San Marco, the Hays County Food Bank also provides food educational services. Volunteers are needed across all aspects of the food bank, from transportation to distribution to working at special events.
Offering a food pantry, a fresh food delivery service and a thrift store, Hill County Community Ministries served nearly 28,000 people last year. Families looking to help can donate money, time, food, or items for the thrift store.
Providing groceries for those who experience food insecurity, Hope Food Pantry distributed groceries to 4,509 households in 2021. More than 25 volunteers are needed just for food distribution each week. Volunteers can stock shelves or help families during distribution.
The Hutto Resource Center is a community center that offers job resources, access to food, and financial assistance for needy families. The center uses volunteers for distribution and job training. Families can also donate money yearly or each month, donate non-perishable items like toilet paper and diapers, or volunteer to host a drop-off location for food and other donations.
This faith-based pantry serves the Hill Country Area of Granite Shoals, Marble Falls, Kingsland and Burnet. The location also hosts an annual Thanksgiving Meal, needing volunteers the weekend before the holiday.
Micah 6 is a network of faith-based communities in and around the University of Texas. The service organization focuses on the homeless and impoverished in the area, including through ministry and at the food pantry. All volunteers must be at least 10 years old.
The center serves Round Rock with food resources, clothing and furniture vouchers and financial assistance. Volunteers are needed to distribute food on pantry days as well as collect items for distribution. Groups such as scouts and church groups are encouraged to volunteer.
This faith-based organization provides food, clothing and basic assistance for people in need in the Taylor area. Volunteers are needed in the food pantry as well as the thrift shop.
Serving the needy in Southern Burnet County, The Helping Center is looking for volunteers to give time, money, and food. The center is served by more than 10 area churches, and it provides assistance to the elderly living on fixed incomes as well as survivors of domestic abuse.
(Downtown Austin, Del Valle, Manor, South Austin, Jonestown, Oak Hill, Pflugerville)
The Travis County Community Centers supports communities through internal and external investments and services. Those in need make an appointment to visit the food pantry and can receive rental and mortgage assistance.
