== Capital Area Food Bank of Texas ==


The Capital Area Food Bank of Texas (CAFB) is a non-profit food bank in Texas working to eliminate hunger in Central Texas through food distribution, education and advocacy. In 2006, more than 16 million pounds of food were distributed to more than 370 Partner Agencies including food pantries, soup kitchens and homeless shelters throughout the 21 county service area. This food has led to approximately 175,000 hungry Central Texans receiving help. The mission of the Capital Area Food Bank of Texas is to nourish hungry people and lead the community in ending hunger.
CAFB is a recognized member of America’s Second Harvest - The Nation’s Food Bank Network, Texas Food Bank Network and the Basic Needs Coalition of Central Texas.

For the last three years, the Food Bank has been ranked in the top five in the Austin Business Journal’s Top Non-Profit Organizations by total revenue and is number one in the percentage of resources returned to the community in programs and services. Additionally, in five of the past six years, the Food Bank has been awarded a four-star rating - the highest possible - by Charity Navigator, an independent watchdog organization. Fewer than 12% of all non-profits gain this rating even two years in a row. In 2005, the Food Bank received the Austin Chronicle ‘Best of Austin’: Best Public Servant award.


Hunger in America Study

In 2006, The Capital Area Food Bank, in association with America's Second Harvest – The Nation's Food Bank Network, surveyed more than 200 emergency feeding programs (food pantries and soup kitchens) in Central Texas, providing the largest comprehensive profile of the incidence and nature of hunger and food insecurity in the region.

History
In 1981, a small group of concerned Austinites from the United Urban Council (the Predecessor of today's Austin Area Interreligious Ministries) and individuals from several community organizations formed the Capital Area Food Bank of Texas, Inc.

They recognized the need for emergency feeding assistance, as well as the availability of surplus food from various food companies and grocery stores that might otherwise go to waste.
In March 1982 , CAFB was incorporated under the Texas Non-Profit Corporation Act, and in 1983 the Food Bank became a certified affiliate of America's Second Harvest -The Nation's Food Bank Network. The Capital Area Food Bank of Texas is a tax-exempt 501(c)3 organization.

In CAFB's first year (1982), fewer than 330,000 pounds of food were recovered, stored and distributed.
Today, more than 16 million pounds of food and grocery products are distributed each year.

Food and grocery products distributed by CAFB go to human and social service agencies. Most CAFB Partner Agencies provide assistance in the form of bags of groceries. Others serve hot meals in a soup kitchen or provide meals as part of treatment programs. CAFB Partner Agencies report that 20 to 100 percent of their food comes directly from the Food Bank.

Community Programs
In addition to providing weekly food distribution to Partner Agencies, CAFB conducts several programs that serve hungry Central Texans. All programs are free of charge.

CHOICES – This nutrition education program is funded in part by the USDA’s Food Stamp Program to help individuals and families make smart choices at mealtime.

Food Stamp Outreach & Education – Food Stamps are a key way to address the nutritional needs of low-income Texas families. However, many barriers to participation remain. The Food Bank hopes to remove some of those barriers by educating potential food stamp recipients of the application process and assisting them with applying.

Fresh Food for Families – 16 distribution centers located across Central Texas provide families with quality fruits and vegetables. Fresh Food for Families distributes more than 196,000 pounds of produce to more than 6,000 families each month.

Kids Cafe – The 30 Kids Cafe sites in Central Texas serve more than 25,000 meals per month to more than 2,800 children in need. This after-school program provides a safe, nurturing place where neighborhood children receive a hot, nutritious dinner, as well as help with homework from caring individuals.

HOPE – Healthy Options Program for the Elderly (HOPE) provides senior citizens who are living on a fixed income with supplemental staple groceries on a monthly basis. Partner Agencies already working with senior citizens aged 60 and older help the Food Bank serve more than 1,500 seniors each month.

Meat & Perishable Food Rescue Program – Through CAFB's Meat and Perishable Food Rescue, thousands of pounds of fresh, nutritious, high-quality foods that would otherwise be thrown away by local retailers and wholesalers are picked up and redistributed to Partner Agencies.

Other program partnerships include Texas Fresh Approach, which allows Texas prison inmates to grow fresh vegetables for CAFB Partner Agencies, and Texas Second Chance, which allows Texas prison inmates to sort donated food and learn valuable warehouse skills.

Community Events
With the exception of the annual “Putt a Hole in Hunger” golf tournament, all events benefiting the Food Bank are produced by the community. Notable top annual events include: Annual National Association of Letter Carriers “Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive”, Austin Empty Bowl Project, Austin Reggae Festival, 3M Half Marathon, CROP Hunger Walk, Regal Cinemas Cans Film Festival, and Austin Chronicle’s Hot Sauce Festival. More than 550 events are produced annually.

External Links
Capital Area Food Bank of Texas – [2079]
America’s Second Harvest, The Nation’s Food Bank Network – [2080]
Texas Food Bank Network – [2081]
Basic Needs Coalition of Central Texas – [2082]