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FAQ
CAFB Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the Capital Area Food Bank of Texas needed?
Nearly one in five adults and one in four children in the State of Texas lives in poverty and has difficulty meeting basic nutritional needs. Meanwhile, large quantities of surplus food are available from the food industry and food manufacturers.
Who donates food?
Most of the food comes from the food industry. Often, the reason is overproduction or inventory control. Other reasons include packaging errors, changes in product formulas, the expiration of coupons or approaching sell-by dates.
The United States Department of Agriculture donates commodities, while the public, through numerous community food drives also donates food. The Texas Department of Criminal Justice supplies fresh produce through the Texas Fresh Approach partnership.
Major companies such as General Mills, Nabisco and Kraft donate enormous quantities of food to America's Second Harvest - The Nation's Food Bank Network. The Capital Area Food Bank is a member of America's Second Harvest and therefore has access to these products.
Other food comes from local retail grocery chains. They donate perishable foods, including meat, produce, dairy products and bread. H-E-B also provides truckloads of rescued product which volunteers sort, evaluate and box for distribution in the Food Bank's Product Recovery Program. Food wholesalers, such as Texas Health Distributors, and local food companies, such as Michael Angelo's Gourmet Foods, donate surplus inventories.
What kind of food is donated?
Nearly every brand you see at the grocery store or in your own cupboard can be found in the Food Bank warehouse.
How does the Food Bank help end hunger in Central Texas?
CAFB distributes more than 15 million pounds of food and grocery products each year. These items serve more than 370 non-profit human and social service Partner Agencies. By partnering with CAFB, these agencies save millions of dollars in food purchase costs annually. Partner Agencies report that 20 to 100 percent of their food comes from CAFB.
Do hungry people eat at the Capital Area Food Bank?
No. CAFB Partner Agencies - including soup kitchens, church food pantries, neighborhood centers, halfway houses, family crisis shelters, hospice programs and low-income daycare facilities - provide CAFB food and grocery products to their clients. Through the network of Partner Agencies, nearly 415,000 people receive food assistance each year. More than 35,000 people per week access emergency food assistance.
How is the Capital Area Food Bank of Texas funded?
In great part, by people like YOU! The Food Bank is a non-profit organization that relies on contributions to pay most operating expenses. Individuals, corporations and foundations all contribute to CAFB, which is one of the best financial investments in the community! Nearly 98% of all resources received by the Food Bank are returned to the community in programs and services. This is the highest of any non-profit based in Austin. And with every $1 donated, the Food Bank can provide 5 meals.
The Capital Area Food Bank of Texas distributes more than $25,000,000 worth of food and grocery products each year. Although the agencies pay a small handling fee for the food they receive, the total of those fees is less than $800,000 per year for all 370 agencies.
This means that millions of dollars are saved each year...
-- by the Partner Agencies as food they did not have to purchase.
-- by the community as donated dollars that did not have to be raised.
How is the money used?
Funds are used to acquire and distribute donated food, including: the operation of the CAFB warehouse, utilities to run huge freezers and coolers, fuel and maintenance for refrigerated trucks, long distance freight charges and materials needed for CAFB's product recovery program, agency training classes and publications. In addition to distribution, funds are also used to operate Kids Cafe, Fresh Food For Families, HOPE and Regional Food Delivery programs.
Where is the Capital Area Food Bank located?
The Capital Area Food Bank of Texas is located at 8201 South Congress Avenue, between William Cannon Drive and Slaughter Lane in Austin, Texas. Get directions.
What are the Food Bank's business hours?
Regular business hours are Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. (CST).
Additional volunteer hours are Thursday nights until 9 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m. - noon and 12:45 p.m. - 4 p.m.
How do I volunteer?
To sign up as a Capital Area Food Bank volunteer, register online, call the Volunteer Information line at 512.684.2140, or email volunteer@austinfoodbank.org.
How do I receive the CAFB electronic newsletter?
Sign up today to become a member of the CAFB Community.
If you still have questions, please contact Kerri Qunell, Vice President, Communications, or send e-mail to communications@austinfoodbank.org.
For questions about online donations, view the Online Giving FAQ.
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