Central Texas Food Bank holds emergency food distribution event

AUSTIN, Texas - Thousands of Central Texans left Nelson Field in North Austin with a trunk full of groceries. It was all part of a drive-through emergency food distribution held by the Central Texas Food Bank to help people struggling during these Coronavirus times.

Derrick Chubbs, the President, and CEO of the Central Texas Food Bank says providing food to those who need it the most is nothing new to the food bank, but handing out food to this many people is. 

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“We're all saddened that we're having to do this in the first place, but I think the other part is we're grateful that we are able to do this for our community,” he said.

Volunteers with the Central Texas Food Bank passed out boxes of food to community members.

“I guess about 30 pounds, 35 pounds of groceries that, you know, that they would normally purchase to go in their pantries and refrigerator,” said Chubbs.

Chubbs says they’ve seen a 200% increase in new clients. “We distribute food to around 50,000 every week, but what we're seeing with COVID-19 is totally unprecedented not only for us but for every food bank across the country,” he said. 

With more people, comes the need for more food. Chubbs says because of this pandemic, the food bank’s food donations have gone down by 80%. “We depend heavily on donations from our retailers, and that food just isn't as available as it has been in the past. Our donations from food are down by 80% so now we're having to purchase food and we're having to purchase that food at retail [price],” said Chubs. 

Chubbs says they’ll keep holding them for the people that need it the most.

Here’s a list of upcoming food drives:

Thursday, May 7 

• Del Valle High School, 5201 Ross Rd, Del Valle, TX 78617 
• 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Thursday, May 14 

• Nelson Field, 7105 Berkman Dr, Austin, TX 78752 
• 9:00 a.m.-Noon 

Saturday, May 16 

• ACC Highland, 6101 Highland Campus Dr, Austin, TX 78752 
• 8:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. 

Thursday, May 21 

• Del Valle High School, 5201 Ross Rd, Del Valle, TX 78617 
• 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Thursday, May 28 

• Toney Burger Stadium,3200 Jones Rd, Austin, TX 78745 (Please enter at the north side of the facility  from the eastbound Hwy 290 frontage road between Brodie Lane and West Gate)
• 9:00 a.m. - Noon 

“The amount of gratitude that we're receiving people leaving, waving at us, saying thank you, it feels really good to be able to do this,” said Chubbs.

Click here, to volunteer or donate to the Central Texas Food Bank.

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