The Hays County Food Bank is set to upsize operations and innovate its service model with a move to a new, larger facility early next year. According to CBS Austin, the move is prompted by the growing need in the community and the limitations of their current aging space. This new setup is expected to greatly enhance the distribution of essential food items in the face of increasing demand.
With the food bank already distributing around 26% more food this year as compared to last, Lisa Young, the Executive Director of the Hays County Food Bank, admitted that meeting the spiraling demand has been quite the challenge. "It’s going to be transformational for us," she told KUT, while surrounded by the cramped quarters they will soon leave behind. The move, coming off the back of an already impactful service stretch during 2023, is set to facilitate a more personalized approach to food distribution they call the client choice model.
The client choice concept, entailing the selection of groceries in a marketplace-like setting, is pegged as a food waste reduction strategy and a measure to dignify the client experience. "People coming in with their kids, we’re going to have a little something for kids, and people just having that agency to go and choose things that they think they’re going to want to cook and be excited about the food that they’re going to get," elaborated Young in a statement obtained by CBS Austin.
At the heart of the food bank's choice for relocation is a space previously known as the former Hays Co. Bar-B-Que on I-35, which they closed this May. Aside from being well-suited for food storage and distribution, the new location also allows for the establishment of a community garden and an outdoor area where mobility being one of Young's biggest concerns, might challenge some current patrons to adjust, as reported by KUT. To address mobility issues, the food bank is exploring the launch of a fleet of delivery vans to extend service throughout the county. Young envisions this increased visibility will help in garnering more volunteer support and donations. "Right on 35, between Austin and San Antonio, is a great spot for most people to see us," she said.
To support this ambitious leap, the food bank is scheduled to host a gala fundraiser on February 22, a move that will no doubt bolster their efforts to meet the needs of a food-insecure population that is on the rise post-pandemic. Sari Vatske, President and CEO of the Central Texas Food Bank, highlighted in an interview with KUT, the stark reality of food insecurity in the region, with over 16% of adults and 25% of children uncertain about their next meal. With hopes riding high on the Hays County Food Bank's transition, the community looks forward to the realization of a new chapter in the food bank's evolving saga of assistance and empowerment.
