Patch Travis County Holiday Food Drive: Give To Feeding America

TRAVIS COUNTY, TX — Feeding America, the nation’s largest hunger relief organization, predicted hunger would become an urgent problem as millions of Americans lost jobs, paychecks and, in some cases, their businesses because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Travis County has not been untouched by the scourge of hunger. Some 158,270 residents — roughly 16 percent of the population — are food insecure.

You can help. Patch and Feeding America teamed last summer to address the growing hunger crisis in America, connecting readers with the organization’s 200 member food banks serving 60,000 food pantries and meal programs while providing an easy way to donate money to help their neighbors.

Related story: Central Texas Food Bank Sets December Food Distribution Events

Now through Dec. 31, we’re encouraging readers to make a tax-deductible contribution to Feeding America in the Patch Holiday Food Drive. Every $1 given to the organization buys 10 meals.

Local resources in Travis County include:

• El Buen Samaritano, 7000 Woodhue. Phone: (512) 439-0733. Hours of operation: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday 9 a.m. to noon.
• Haynie Chapel Food Pantry, 16309 Greenwood, Del Valle, Texas. Phone: (512) 247-4454. Open Tuesdays from 10 am. to noon.
• Pflugerville First UMC, 500 E. Pecan St. Phone: (512) 251-2575. Tuesdays from 9 a.m. to noon.
• Caritas of Austin, 611 Neches St. (512) 479-4610. Monday-Friday, 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
• Reaching Out Center, 15630 Vision Dr., Pflugerville, Texas. Phone: (512) 251-4800.
• St. Elizabeth SVDP, 1520 Railroad Ave., Pflugerville, Texas. Phone: (512) 251-9838. Monday from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.; Thursdays 7:30 a.m. to 11 a.m.. Serves ZIP codes 78728, 78753, 78754 and 787660.
• Reaching Out Center, 15630 Vision Dr., Pflugerville, Texas. Phone: (512) 251-4800.
• Salvation Army Social Services in Travis County. There are multiple food pantries as well as soup kitchens from all sites in the county. Meals are for the homeless. Other food and financial aid may help veterans, seniors citizens, and the disabled in Travis County. They also have the Angel Tree gift and Christmas meal program. Or free Thanksgiving dinner, summer camp, and Christmas meals. More on Salvation Army assistance programs Austin area.
• Kingdom of God Christian Center, 5811 Berkman Dr., Suite 130. Phone: (512) 926-5422. Second and fourth Saturdays of the month, from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m.
• Trinity Center, 304 E. 7th St., Phone: (512) 472-1196.
• Rebekah Baines Johnson Center, 21 Waller St. Phone: (512) 476-6051.
• Shoreline - North Austin Mobile Pantry, 15201 Burnet Rd., 1190 Chicón St. Phone: (512) 494-0953.
• Covenant United Methodist Church, 4410 Duval Rd. Phone: (512) 346-3124.
• Foundation Communities - Crossroads, 8801 McCann Dr.
• Greater Love Baptist Church, 6601 Manor Rd. Phone: (512) 929-3017. The pantry has produce and fruit only.
• Austin Voices Lanier, 1111 Fairfield Dr.
• Society of St. Vincent de Paul Council, 901 W. Braker Lane. Phone: (512) 251-6995.
• St. Louis Food Pantry, 2114 St. Joseph's Blvd. Phone: (512) 454-0384.
• Travis Heights Food Pantry, 4403 Russell Dr. (512) 799-2961.
• Montopolis Friendship Community Center, 403 Vargas Rd. Phone: (512) 385-0294.
• Lyons Gardens, 2720 Lyons Rd. Phone: (512) 236-1781.
• Bread For All, 1314 E. Oltorf St. Phone: (512) 444-1314.
• Foundation Communities - M Station, 2918 E. Martin Luther King Blvd. Phone: (512) 617-3037.
• Loaves and Fishes. See more at Travis County Loaves and Fishes.
• Our Lady’s Maronite Church, 1320 E 51st St. Phone: (512) 458-3693.
• Austin Baptist Chapel, 908 E. Cesar Chavez St., Phone: (512) 474-2666.
• Catholic Charities: Angels of Hope, 1817 E. 6th St. Phone: (512) 651-6101. Hours of operation: Thursday, 12:30 p.m.- 2:30 p.m., Friday, 10:00 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• Capital Area Food Bank of Texas, 8201 S Congress Ave. Phone: (512) 282-2111.
• Cristo Rey Social Ministries, 2208 E. 2nd St. Phone: (512) 477-1099.
• Greater Mount Zion Baptist Church, 1801 Pennsylvania Ave. Phone: (512) 731-2498. Pantry hours are on Saturdays from 9:30 a.m. to noon.
• Olivet Helping Hand Center, 1161 San Bernard St. (512) 472-2298. Hours: 2nd and 4th Saturday of the month, 9 a.m. to noon.
• Our Lady of Guadalupe Church, 1206 E. 9th St. Phone: (512) 478-7955. Hours of operation: Monday from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturday, 10:30 a.m. to noon.
• Rosewood Avenue Baptist Church, 1807 Rosewood Ave. Phone: (512) 476-2801. Open on the 1st and 3rd Saturday of each month from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m.
• Bethany Faith Food Pantry, 3507 E. 12th St., Phone: (512) 926- 4146.
• Austin Cornerstone Church Food Pantry, 1101 Reinli St. Phone (512) 467-2140. Hours of operation are on the 1st an 3rd Thursday of each month from noon to 2 p.m.
• Casa de Dios, 6618 Manor Rd. Phone: (512) 373-0931. Hours of operation are on the 2nd and 4th Thursday of each month from 5 p.m to 7 p.m.
• Eastside Community Connections, 5810 Berkman. Phone: (512) 220-7312. Only offers food to people at most every two weeks.
• Hope Lutheran Church, 6414 North Hampton. Phone: (512) 926-8574. Hours of operation are are Monday between 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
• John Community Food Center, 500 E. St. Johns Ave. Phone: (512) 381-7104.
• Dorcas Passion Ministries, 3016 E. 51 St. Phone: (512) 662-6321.
• River Road Baptist Church of Austin. Phone: (512) 276-3824.
• Santa Barbara Catholic Church, 13713 FM 969. Phone: (512) 276-1015.
• Feed The Community at Gateway, 7104 McNeil Rd., Phone: (512) 837-2162.
• Foreman Phillips Outreach Center, 15630 Vision Dr., Pflugerville, Texas. Phone: (512) 251-4800.
• Westover Hills Church of Christ, 8332 Mesa Dr. Phone: (512) 345-6386.
• Lake Travis Crisis Ministries, 107 RR 620 South, No. 114. Phone: (512) 266-9810.
• Dolores Catholic Church, 1111 Montopolis Dr. Phone: (512) 385-4333.
• St. Edward’s Baptist Church, 702 Montopolis Dr. Phone: (512) 385-3564.
• CHI- Dove Springs, 5801 Anize Dr. Phone: (512) 972-5787.
• Hands of Love, 5201 E. William Cannon Dr., Phone: (512) 462-1011. Hours: Saturdays from noon to 2 p.m.
• Austin Christian Tabernacle, 4400 S. 1st St., Phone: (512) 462-3313. Hours of operation are on the 1st and 3rd Thursday of each month from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• Austin S. 7th Day Adventist, 132 Eberhart Dr. Phone: (512) 442-7888. Hours of operation are on the 1st and 3rd Thursday of each month from noon to 2:30 p.m. Serves only the 78744 and 78745 ZIP codes.
• Bannockburn Baptist Church, 7100 Brodie Lane. Phone: (512) 892-2703.
• Jubilee Christian Center, 2909 W. William Cannon Dr. Phone: (512) 892-4545. Hours of operation are each Saturday from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Only serves ZIP codes 78745, 78748 and 78749. The food pantry serves only the first 15 families each week.
• St. Ignatius, 2303 Euclid St. Phone: (512) 442-0226.
• Christian Life Church Food Pantry, 4700 Westgate Blvd. Hours of operation are each Friday from noon to 2 p.m.
• South Austin Church of Nazarene, 6711 Manchaca Rd. Phone: (512) 442-8476. Hours of operation are each Monday from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
• San Francisco Javier Catholic Church, 9110 U.S. Highway 183 South. Phone: (512) 243-1404. Hours of operation are each Thursday from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Servies ZIP codes 78744, 78747, 78617, 78640 and 78616.
• Abiding Love Lutheran Church, 7210 Brush Country. Phone: (512) 892-4040.
• First Baptist Church - Oak Hill, 6907 Convict Hill. Phone: (512) 288-7570. Hours of operation are Tuesday and Wednesday from 9 a.m. to noon. Only serves ZIP codes 78749, 78736 and 78739.
• Vineyard Christian Fellowship, 13208 Morris St. Phone: (512) 331-5200. Hours of operation are the 2nd and 4th Sunday from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
• Church of Christ Hyde Park, 310 W. 43rd St. (43rd & Ave B). Phone: (512) 453-2702.
• Hope Food Pantry, 4001 Speedway. Phone: (512) 420-0710. Hours of operation are Thursday and Friday from 9:45 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Serves ZIP codes 78757, 78752, 78754, 78723, 78751, 78756, 78703,78705 and 78722.
• Hyde Park Baptist Church, 3810 Speedway. Phone: (512) 459-6587. Hours of operation: Monday and Wednesday from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
• Manos de Cristo, 4911 Harmon Ave. Phone: (512) 477-7454.
• CAFB St. Johns Community Food Center, 500 E. St. Johns Ave. Phone: (512) 381-7104. Hours of operation are each Wednesday f rom 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.
• Gethsemane Lutheran Church, 200 West Anderson Lane. Phone: (512) 836-8560
• Austin Spanish Seventh Day Adventist, 100 West Rundberg Lane. Phone: (512) 833-7222. Hours of operation are each Wednesday from 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
• St. Mark UMC, 601 W. Braker Lane. Phone: (512) 836-5747. Hours of operation: Each Wednesday and Friday from 10 a.m. to noon.
• St. Louis Catholic Church, 7601 Burnet Rd., Phone: (512) 454-0384. Hours of operation: Each Saturday from 8 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
• Heaven's Harvest, 1734 Rutland Dr. Phone: (512) 836-3282. Hours of operation are each Monday from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.
• Príncipe de Paz, 1204 Peyton Gin Rd. Phone: (512) 836-2160.
• La Iglesia del Señor, 209 E. Ben White Boulevard, Suite 205. Phone: (512) 789-4066. Limited hours are each 1st and 3rd Friday from noon to 2 p.m.
• Lifeworks Street Outreach, 408 W. 23rd St. Phone: (512) 735-2300.
• Micah 6 at UPC, 2203 San Antonio. Phone: (512) 473-0088. Hours of operation: Thursday 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 p.m.

Austin and Travis County also are served by community centers. These sites can provide free food, groceries, shelter and information on various government programs. Resources and programs such as SNAP provide not only food but information on other financial assistance programs such as rent and electric bills. The community centers in the Austin Texas area:

• East Rural Community Center, 600 W. Carrie Manor St. in Manor, Texas. Phone: (512) 272-5561.
• North Rural Community Center, 15822 Foothill Farm Loop, Bldg. D, in Pflugerville, Texas. Phone: (512) 251-4168.
• Northwest Rural Community Center, FM 1431 Ste. 6A in Jonestown, Texas. Phone: (512) 267-3245.
• Palm Square Office, 100 N. IH-35, No. 1000. Phone: (512) 854-4100.
• Post Road Community Center Office, 2201 Post Rd., No. 101. Phone: (512) 854-9130.
• South Rural Community Center Center, 3518 S. FM 973, in Del Valle, Texas. Phone: (512) 4407.
• West Rural Community Center, 8656-A Hwy 71 West. Phone: (512) 854-2130.

Feeding America predicted last summer that 50 million people, including 17 million children, could face hunger by year’s end because of the pandemic. Feeding America projects the food insecurity rate in Travis County will rise to 16.2 percent in 2020, up from 12.9 percent in 2018.

In announcing its participation during Giving Tuesday — the global day of giving when altruistic-minded people donate to their favorite causes — Central Texas Food Bank officials illustrated their mission by describing one of the 40,000 residents the group helps each year.

"Sylvia's husband is a sergeant in the Army stationed at Fort Hood in Killeen," officials wrote. "Financial hardships make life of a military family tough. Between paychecks, Sylvia nourishes her familiy with extra groceries from Operation Once in a Lifetime, a Capital Area Food Bank Partner Agency that serves active duty military, veterans and their families.

"No one should ever have to go hungry, especially during the holidays. With your donation, we can provide nutritious meals to families like Sylvia's and show them how much we appreciate their service to our country."

For its part, Feeding America said 80 percent of its food banks — that's about four in five — are serving more people than they were during last year's comparable period. With the pandemic worsening during the holiday season, many people who never before worried about paying for a meal now are turning to food banks for the first time.

From the beginning of the pandemic believed to have begun in March, Feeding America distributed 4.2 billion meals — enough to provide every U.S. resident with breakfast, lunch and dinner for just over four days.

In the first four months of the documented pandemic, four in 10 people were first-time visitors to food banks, according to Feeding America.

Patch news partner/Shutterstock

How To Support The Patch Holiday Food Drive

Patch has teamed with Feeding America to help raise awareness on behalf of the millions of Americans facing hunger. Feeding America, which supports 200 food banks across the country, estimates that in 2020, more than 50 million Americans will not have enough nutritious food to eat due to the effects of the coronavirus pandemic. This is a Patch social good project; Feeding America receives 100 percent of donations. Find out how you can donate in your community or find a food pantry near you.