On a very cold and foggy morning, Felix Orrostieta, 40, is about the eighth person in line at Creedmore Elementary. Despite wearing a heavy coat and using her hoodie, she has been shivering for almost an hour, but the wait is all worth it when she thinks about her five children.
For this family, winter usually means struggling economically. Even though her husband works full-time as a landscaper, during this season work is slow, and they’re short on money. The family has just enough to cover utility bills and rent. Sometimes they can only afford to buy groceries a couple of days at a time, and only the most essential items like milk and eggs.
“At times we do feel desperate because with his income sometimes we only have enough to barely make ends meet,” Felix said.
The food she obtains helps diminish the expenses the family has she said.
Felix knows very well what it’s like to be hungry. Growing up, she didn’t always have a meal, and she is grateful for the help she has received at one of our newest mobile food pantry sites. After learning about it through a flyer sent home from one of her children, the help couldn’t have arrived at a better time.
“This does help. Last time I came, I didn’t have enough [food], and this helped me out for the whole week,” she said.
At the mobile food pantry she receives fresh vegetables, canned food, and even some sweets for desert for her family. Everything she needs to make complete meals to keep her family growing big and strong.
“Everything we’re given, we do use,” she said. “Thank you for helping other people more in need.”
How You Can Help During Amplify Austin
Now you can help families like Felix’s grow big and strong during this year’s annual Amplify Austin, a 24-hour community-wide day of online giving to help nonprofits.
Despite our efforts to end the hunger gap in Central Texas, one in four children still go to bed hungry. Help us make sure children in our community grow big and strong.
Please help us raise $150,000 that will provide 600,000 meals for families in need this year during Amplify Austin’s day of giving starting at 6 p.m. on March 8 through March 9 at 6 p.m.
Amplify Austin is an online day of giving hosted by I Live Here I Give Here. There are many different ways to be a part of the fun:
Sign up to be a fundraiser!
Spread the word about the Food Bank to your family and friends and encourage them to get involved in the community-wide day of giving.
Pre-schedule your donation!
Starting January 27, 2016 you’ll be able to schedule your donation for the day of giving in advance.
Give during Amplify Austin!
You’ll have 24 hours to help us promote the mission of the Food Bank by giving online at www.amplifyATX.org.
Together we can help feed the nearly 477,000 food-insecure Central Texans!
