Hunger throughout the year

A Keep Austin Fed volunteer delivers donations to a community partner.

Keep Austin Fed volunteers pick up fresh groceries from Sprouts Farmers Market.

Fresh produce fills a volunteer’s car.

A staff member at Sunrise Homeless Navigation Center receives donations.

While we often highlight food insecurity associated with school closures in the summer or empty tables during the holidays, our neighbors experiencing hunger face distinct barriers to food access all year long. ‍

Fall

As summer ends and fall begins, college students return to campus full time. For many, this transition means inconsistent meals and difficult choices.

According to a 2022 survey by UT Austin’s Food Insecurity Action Team, nearly one in three UT Austin students experiences food insecurity. UT Outpost, the university’s on-campus food pantry, has seen its yearly pounds of food distributed more than triple since 2021.

Food insecurity among students is even higher at two-year colleges; a 2025 study found that 48% of ACC students face food insecurity.

In 2025, Keep Austin Fed provided more than 6,600 pounds of fresh groceries to UT Oupost. Keep Austin Fed also partners with Neighborhood and Community Centers and the ATX Free Fridge Project to provide students with food in the communities where they live. With consistent access to nutritious meals, students are able to focus on their education instead of worrying about their stomachs.

Winter

While there is an emphasis on food insecurity during the holidays, Austinites facing hunger often struggle when the holidays end.

Both food and financial donations decrease following the holiday season, leaving our neighbors with limited access to food assistance. Financial strain exacerbated by school closures and increased heating bills also pushes families to prioritize rent and utilities over groceries.

To provide comprehensive support for our neighbors, Keep Austin Fed partners with organizations that provide a wide range of services to Austinites. Project Transitions provides its residents with resource education, medicine refills, and counseling as well as three meals a day. Austin Youth River Watch hosts after school and summer programs to educate students about the environment; every river watcher receives a free meal. Saffron Trust coordinates housing, education, and healthcare assistance for women and their families while offering community members fresh produce and pantry staples. Keep Austin Fed’s partnership with over 90 local organizations makes it easy for our neighbors to access additional nutrition during the winter months.

Spring

The inconsistency of spring and the transition into summer can cause financial strain, creating difficult choices for many of our neighbors.

While spring break can provide a welcome change in routine, students across Austin lose access to the free meal programs they rely on. Families must also pay for childcare during the break, while volatile weather creates unpredictable utility bills.

As summer approaches, families are also forced to begin saving for long-term childcare and increased electric bills. Saving further stretches budgets, leaving many Austinites unable to accommodate emergencies or unexpected expenses.

Organizations like El Buen Samaritano and University United Methodist Church provide Austinites with a variety of fresh groceries each week. With regular donations of high-quality food, Keep Austin Fed provides consistency for our neighbors navigating the stress and uncertainty of food insecurity.

Summer

When schools close for the summer, many students face three long months without their primary source of consistent meals. Without school meal programs, students and their families struggle to receive the nutrition they need to lead healthy, active lives.

Before the summer begins, Keep Austin Fed partners with schools to distribute snack packs to students and their families. During the summer, organizations like Open Door Preschool and Jeremiah Program use Keep Austin Fed’s donations to nourish students and their families all summer long.

Keep Austin Fed works 365 days a year to provide our community with healthy meals during every season. Monthly giving provides the reliable support necessary to meet every season’s challenges and keep nourishing our neighbors. Become a sustaining donor today, and help us continue our work year round!