AUSTIN (KXAN) \u2014 The Central Texas Food Bank (CTFB) and Austin Pets Alive! are teaming up once again for a drive-up food distribution ahead of Thanksgiving.<\/p>\n
On Monday, crews will operate out of a mobile pantry site located at the Delco Activity Center in Austin to distribute turkeys, fresh produce and other essential grocery items.<\/p>\n
\u201cHunger doesn\u2019t take a holiday and neither do we,\u201d Sari Vatske, President and CEO of the Central Texas\u00a0Food\u00a0Bank, said in a release. \u201cEvery turkey distributed represents the belief that no table should remain empty during the holidays.\u201d<\/p>\n
The CTFB expects to serve around 750 households. Drivers can pull in, load up and head out \u2014 no questions asked.<\/p>\n
Vatske said before the government shutdown in October, food insecurity was already on the rise in Central Texas. She said the numbers have hit a 10-year high, including during the pandemic.<\/p>\n
\u201cPeople were dipping into their savings. They were maxing out credit cards,\u201d Vatske explained. \u201cWe are now serving over 610,000 food insecure individuals throughout 21 counties, and we\u2019ve seen those numbers double over the past month or so as people recover from the shutdown and prepare for the holiday season.\u201d<\/p>\n
As of early Monday morning, drivers were already lining up outside of the Delco Center hours ahead of the distribution.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a help. A blessing for everyone for food to be given and not have to be bought. Prices are so high and some families can\u2019t afford the things that they need,\u201d Patricia Barnett, one of the first people to arrive at the distribution, said.<\/p>\n
Austin Pets Alive! also plans to give out pet food to those in need.<\/p>\n
The distribution is Monday, from 9-10:30 a.m. at the Delco Activity Center located at 4601 Pecan Brook Drive.<\/p>\n
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