These services are providing food equity for Central Texans
By Brianna Chavez
Having a fridge fully stocked with milk, eggs and nutrient-rich foods is a privilege a lot of us may take for granted. Many agree that everyone deserves access to food. However, access to food can be hard to come by for many Central Texans.
Texas is ranked the second-highest state in the nation with food insecurity. Regardless of class status, ethnicity or living conditions, more than one in ten Travis County residents are food insecure. With food accessibility comes community, education and health; all beneficial for a productive lifestyle. Here in Austin, there are organizations and groups providing this and more for the most vulnerable communities.
ATX Free Fridge is a community mutual aid that relies on community members and volunteers to share their time and resources to support those in need. There are seven ATX free fridges scattered across Austin that are accessible 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Anyone from students to the elderly can use these fridges – the supplies and necessities at no cost.
Kellie Stiewert is a core organizer with ATX Free Fridge who sees the true value and impact their work is making in the Austin community.
“People would be shocked to know just how many people are using these fridges to feed themselves,” Stiewert said. “We rely on the community to keep these seven fridges running.”
Stiewert said that fresh produce, portioned and labeled prepared meals, canned goods, nonperishables and fresh fruit and veggies from home gardens are welcome to be stocked in the fridge. Items that can be eaten or served cold are great for those who don’t have access to microwaves or stoves.
Some free fridges even have extra pantry space for items such as hygiene products, books and clean clothes. Stiewert said the need is so incredibly high that at most times there are lines of people looking forward to using the fridge.
“I saw a man scream hallelujah when he found a bar of soap that I left,” Stiewert said. “It’s infinitely helpful to drop even just one item off at a fridge.”
The Sustainable Food Center has also felt a great need for its services and support from Central Texans. Hannah Thornton, Senior Director of Food Access and Education at Sustainable Food Center, said that food insecurity has increased within the last two years both in Travis County and Texas.
“We’re definitely seeing both an increased demand for our services as well as an increase in people participating in our programs,” Thornton said.
Sustainable Food Center has been on a mission for 50 years to ensure all Texans have access to food and the tools to prepare fresh meals. The nonprofit organization helps local small-scale farmers increase their profit by making food more accessible through their food access programs and education.
The organization’s three food access programs bring extra purchasing power to people enrolled in federal nutrition benefits programs, such as SNAP and WIC, to spend on fruits and veggies from local sources. These programs can be accessed through the organization’s two farmers’ markets and partner markets throughout Central Texas.
“We work to support the food system in Central Texas in a way that is resilient, equitable and local,” Thornton said.
Additionally, the Sustainable Food Center has a six-week cooking and nutrition education program called The Happy Kitchen, or La Cocina Alegre. This free class series teaches participants about the nutritional benefits of the foods they eat and how to incorporate fruits and vegetables into their diet.
“Each participant is sent home with a bag of groceries, knowledge and food to share with their families,” Thornton said. “It’s really all about building community relationships.”
With a growing number of individuals becoming food insecure in Central Texas, the need for food cannot be emphasized enough. Stiewert believes community engagement and support, even if it’s just one can or one hour of your time, is beneficial.
“ATX Free Fridge’s motto is solidarity, not charity,” Stiewert said. “Everyone deserves to be nourished.”
Thornton has a personal connection with her work, having been on SNAP while in her 20s. She said she feels like it’s her mission to support those in need, and she knows others have that same mission as well.
“There are a lot of really capable, dedicated individuals here in Austin that are focused on food equity, and that gives me a lot of hope,” Thornton said.
