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AMD and the Central Texas Food Bank | CORPORATE PARTNERSHIPS BUILD BETTER COMMUNITIES
In 1994, the Central Texas Food Bank, then known as the Capital Area Food Bank of Texas, broke ground on a state-of-the-art facility on South Congress Avenue in Austin. It was the first building in the nation constructed as a food bank at a time when other food banks were retrofitting existing warehouse space, and it set the stage for a future of innovation. While it was years before Austin would become the tech hub it is today, companies like AMD had already set up shop in the promising college town and helped fund this new facility. Over the course of three years, AMD contributed $190,000 to help make the new Food Bank location a reality.
The capital campaign was not AMD’s first involvement with the Food Bank, a relationship stretching back farther than either company’s records go, but it displayed their commitment to helping feed their community. When the Food Bank was founded in 1981, AMD had already been in Austin for a couple of years, and they became supporters soon after. Their gifts have helped fund general operations, support programs like Mobile Pantry, Kids Cafe® and Fresh Food for Families and helped see our community through disasters. By 2014, the Food Bank had outgrown the facility on South Congress and launched a second capital campaign. Once again AMD stepped up, pledging $50,000 to the new building. Overall, AMD and their employees have contributed more than a staggering $2 million in financial gifts to the Food Bank over the years, helping fund infrastructure and essential programs for the many Central Texans facing hunger.
“It is so inspiring to look back on all we have been able to do together and imagine everything we can do in the future to make sure everyone in our community gets the food they need,” says Amelia Long, Community Engagement Director for the Central Texas Food Bank. “Our relationship with AMD is a full-spectrum partnership that has continued for decades, engaged thousands of employees and created millions of meals for Central Texans in need. This is exactly what we hope for when partnering with a company, and we could not be more grateful for the amazing generosity AMD as a company and individual AMD employees have shown.”
While many companies make financial gifts, relationships where the employees also get involved in the fight against hunger are especially important to the Food Bank. AMD employees have hosted food and fund drives as far back as 2005, feeding families during the holidays nearly every year since, and coming together during hurricanes, government furloughs and now, pandemics. Over the years they have dropped off 418,959 pounds of food. That alone adds up to approximately 350,000 meals and enough to feed a family of four three meals per day for nearly eighty years. Employee financial contributions have had an even greater impact, creating millions of meals for our neighbors in need, and yet, AMD’s relationship is best recognized through their commitment to volunteerism.
In the last ten years alone, AMD volunteers have donated more than 4,500 hours of their time sorting donations in the warehouse, distributing food at mobile pantries and preparing meals in the kitchen. Many have become committed recurring volunteers. In fact, one of the two longest serving Food Bank volunteers started as a workplace volunteer with AMD. Cathy Roach, who recently retired from the company, has been coming back to the Food Bank for more than 20 years, and it all started with a shift with her AMD coworkers on Mother’s Day weekend in 2000.
“I got started mainly because AMD did, and still does, encourage employees to give back to their community,” Cathy says. “While I didn’t have money to donate to non-profits at that time, volunteering was a good way for me to still contribute and support their work.”
Cathy kept coming back to the Food Bank, and while she has volunteered with other organizations around town as well, the Food Bank continues to hold a special place in her heart. She is eager to return to volunteering post pandemic.
“I’ve always kind of been passionate about the fact that people shouldn’t go to bed hungry at night. I don’t know why because I never went to bed hungry at night,” Cathy says. “Just seeing homeless people and little kids … it has just always been one of my passions.”
What has made the relationship between AMD and the Central Texas Food Bank so successful for more than 35 years? Corporate partnerships are extremely beneficial, not only for the non-profits that rely on donations and volunteerism, but for the companies as well. In an increasingly socially conscious world, volunteer programs bring colleagues together, give teams purpose, provide networking opportunities, instill company pride, and are a key element of recruitment. AMD’s University Relations department uses volunteerism to engage and connect college interns from around the world with the local community, and it is a motivator for talented graduates to sign on with AMD.
“At AMD, we place a high value on giving back with our time and resources. This not only strengthens the communities in which we live, but also strengthens our employees and teams, giving them ways to connect outside the office and gain perspective,” notes Mark Papermaster, AMD CTO and EVP of Technology and Engineering. “Austin AMDers have rallied around the mission of the Central Texas Food Bank, and we are grateful for this long-term partnership.”
For volunteers like Cathy, working with fellow AMDers helped her feel more connected to both the organization overall and individual staff, part of the reason she stayed on with the company for two decades.
“I got to meet other people within AMD that I probably would have never associated with because they were volunteering as well,” Cathy recalls. “I can’t say enough about AMD and their involvement in the community. They’re a good corporate citizen – always have been and I hope always will be.”
You need no further proof of how employees who volunteer are more committed to both their workplace and their community than AMD’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Faced with tremendous need in their local communities and unable to volunteer while observing stay at home guidelines, AMD started an employee giving program to help in the time of crisis. Spurred by the company’s 2:1 match, employees pitched in $147,662 dollars in just two months. Combined with the matching funds, the Food Bank received a donation of $442,986 in June – a critical time for much-needed funding as long lines continued snaking around food distributions all over Central Texas.
“We have really been blown away by support shown by the community during this unprecedented time,” said Derrick Chubbs, president and CEO of the Central Texas Food Bank. “We’ve seen the need for our services explode over the last few months because of the COVID-19 pandemic. We’re serving nearly double the number of people each week and donors like AMD are crucial in helping us meet that demand. Long-term partnerships like these are what make our mission possible and ensure Central Texans can always turn to the Food Bank in their time of need.”
This outsized outpouring of support when it was needed most is the culmination of decades of working together. AMD has been there for the Central Texas Food Bank with donations large and small since the early 1980s. Though priorities and support have evolved over the years, AMD and the Food Bank remain committed to fighting hunger in the community. This ongoing level of support goes a long way for a small food bank that has had to rapidly expand to meet the needs in one of the fastest growing regions of the country. Long-term corporate partners help make the mission of the Central Texas Food Bank possible and help make our community a better home for everyone.
Network Advisory Council Launched with Fortuitous Timing
The idea for the Network Advisory Council (NAC) had been kicking around the Food Bank for a while. The majority of food distributed by the Food Bank goes out through a network of more than 250 Partner Agencies spread out over 21 counties in Central Texas, and to keep all those communities fed means that input from partners is critical. The NAC was to be a volunteer group of 15 organizations that was representative of the Partner Agencies in the Food Bank’s network to provide input and feedback, strengthen relationships and help build network capacity to better address hunger in Central Texas. In 2019, invitations started to go out to select partners asking them to join the new committee, followed by an application for additional agencies interested in participating. By the end of 2019, 16 agencies were on board and ready to take on their new responsibility.
The first NAC meeting took place in January of 2020. Representatives from Partner Agencies and Food Bank staff discussed the future of produce distribution, Partner Agency trainings, advocacy and public policy updates, research and evaluation to better serve clients, and what the ideal partnership between the Food Bank and network members looked like. Plans were made for working groups and the next meeting, but 2020 had a curveball in store.
In mid-March, as the COVID-19 pandemic began to sweep the nation, it became apparent that food distribution models in Central Texas communities had to change, and they had to change fast. Thousands of people were out of work and needed emergency food assistance, large gatherings had been prohibited, and the safety of the staff and volunteers that make hunger relief possible were paramount. The Food Bank swiftly jumped into action revising their mobile pantry model to include a drive-through focus and adding special large scale distributions to meet the increased need, but all of the 250+ Partner Agencies had to quickly pivot as well. The NAC became crucial to understanding the challenges partners were facing, brainstorming solutions and sharing updates with the network.
“Once COVID hit, the NAC members immediately jumped into action and prioritized weekly, then bi-weekly and now monthly calls and communications to ensure we can all support each other and the broader field as the COVID-19 situation continues to unfold,” said Emily De Maria, Chief Programs Officer with the Central Texas Food Bank. “They have given selflessly of their own time and energy all to ensure that CTFB has the in-the-moment feedback from the field to ensure we can support the entire network.”
By the time the second scheduled meeting rolled around in June, the committee members had been working together closely for months. They discussed their biggest wins, lessons learned, and what the future might look like. No doubt, having to rise to the challenge of the COVID-19 pandemic brought the whole network closer together, illustrating the importance of committees like the NAC and opening up lines of communication among partners and the Food Bank.
“In some ways we’ve had a crash course in working together and getting to know each other as a Council and we can say without hesitation this is a group of strategic and dedicated leaders in the fight against hunger! It is our honor and privilege to work with such committed community champions,” said De Maria. “We are looking forward to many years of collaboration.”
Cancer Survivor Seeks Fresh Produce to Aid in Her Recovery
Cancer treatment hasn’t dulled Alicia’s spark. As she moves through the line at the Mobile Food Pantry she makes cheery conversation with every volunteer. Alicia was diagnosed with breast cancer in November of last year. As families prepped for the holidays, she had to prep for her first surgery on December 3rd. Her second surgery was supposed to be on Christmas Eve, but she insisted doctors push it back so she could enjoy the holiday with her family.
“I was like - no, no, no - I’m not going to be in that much pain at Christmas time. So two days after Christmas I went back into surgery”
She doesn’t dwell on the negative though, instead she shares fond memories of the last holiday season spent with her 4 younger sisters and their families.
“Last year actually was really awesome. I had my family rallied around. I had Christmas at my house and it was awesome, everybody came to my house. All my nieces, all my nephews, all my sisters.”
Two more surgeries and radiation therapy followed, leaving Alicia tired and unable to return to work. Her family stepped in to help. She lives with her oldest son, who at 25 years old is shouldering the responsibility of helping his mother when she needs it most. He pays the rent and bills, and does the grocery shopping. This is what brings Alicia to the food pantry this morning.
“I need the help to help my son. So the food I bring is for me and he can enjoy his own… I want to take the strain off of him.”
Alicia also wants to make sure she’s getting enough fruits and vegetables so she’s following doctor’s orders and eating healthy.
“I figured I would come out and try to get some fruit for myself because my son, he can buy his own food and he’s been paying all my bills since I started going through treatment… but the fruit and vegetables at the grocery store, the prices are ridiculous. I know my oncologist is always telling me you need to eat right.”
Before her diagnosis, Alicia worked in home health care as a certified nursing assistant who also performed wound care. She often worked with cancer patients who were bedridden, giving her a unique perspective on her own treatment. She jokes that nurses, like doctors, also make terrible patients.
“I make the worst patient, but I also make a great advocate”.
On days she has more energy she does exactly that, filling her time helping advocate for Breast Cancer Services in the Austin community. Cancer wasn’t new to Alicia’s family. Her mother is also a survivor who beat the odds when battling stage four breast cancer 12 years ago, so it’s a cause she’s become very passionate about.
“Now I’m an advocate. If you’ve got a history of cancer in your family, breast cancer especially, it’s never too early to get yourself checked.”
Alicia is now hopeful that she is in remission and looking forward to peace of mind this holiday season, more time spent with her family and her mother’s famous buttermilk pie. She’s also extremely thankful for everyone who’s helped her along the way on her tough journey.
“Especially when I was going through treatment and my son was paying for all my medications and hospitalizations, the Food Bank was a big help for me to get food in the house. If it wasn’t for them I don’t know where I’d be, and I don’t where a lot of other people would be either without the Food Bank.”
Looking ahead, Alicia is excited to get back on her feet and make sure everyone has access to help when they need it.
“When I get to the point that I can give back, I plan on giving back too. Give back to the community.”
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LOCAL FOOD COMPANY SHARES HEALTHY MISSION
In 2011, Martha Pincoffs embarked on the challenge of eating only locally sourced ingredients for a year. Unable to go out to dinner with friends, she began cooking for them at the house. The stand-out winner of this culinary adventure was her grain burgers. At the urging of her friends, she started selling her patties, and Hot Dang Grain Burgers was born.
Not only does Martha care about making healthier food, she cares about making a healthier community, too. For the second year in a row, Hot Dang Grain Burgers took part in Capital Metro’s annual “Stuff the Bus” campaign by donating 280 cases of veggie burgers. Martha says, “Good food is a foundation for success and growth. When someone’s day starts with one of their basic needs not being met, it is impossible for them to move out of survival mode to thrive. For a holistically healthy community we have to make sure that everyone’s basic needs are taken care of so everyone can thrive. As the founder of a healthy food company, something that has always excited me is getting to be part of that solution.”
Martha first learned about hunger in Central Texas when she visited the Capital Area Food Bank of Texas 15 years ago. Martha says, “We got to see the entire operation and I was floored by the magnitude of need in our community.”
The same space Martha saw on that fateful visit is the one the Food Bank is outgrowing today, demonstrating how important it is for our community to come together and address the issue of hunger in Central Texas. “That the need in our community has out grown that space shows me how important it is for all of us to pitch in and help feed Austin.”
In the future, Hot Dang hopes to be able to tackle food education and school breakfasts for under-served schools through their “Give a Dang” program. “We want to make sure that kids get to start their days ready to learn,” Martha says about the developing initiative.
Companies like Hot Dang are essential in helping fulfill the Food Bank’s mission, and we are excited to see what the future holds for our partnership and their hunger fighting efforts.
Message from the president & ceo
2015 was an exciting year at the Food Bank. Thanks to your support, we broke ground on our new distribution facility, then watched the walls go up and the roof come on. Because of your generous donations, we distributed more food than ever before, putting almost 34 million pounds of food out into the Central Texas community. And we grew our programs and operations, from pilot programs that put clients in touch with the education resources they need, to Agency Retail Pick-Up that allowed us to rescue an additional 8 million pounds of food that otherwise would have ended up in a land fill.
2015 was an exciting year, but 2016 will bring even bigger changes. We are eager to move into our new facility that has double the capacity of our current building so we can reach all of the 477,000 hungry Central Texans in our service territory. As part of the move, we are thrilled to announce our name change to Central Texas Food Bank. We are working hard to serve every corner of Central Texas, a service territory that spans 21 counties, and our name is just one change we are making as we grow and expand our programs.
As we grow, we are striving to help clients not just put food on the table, but become self-sufficient. Our hope is that clients like Dustin, who is featured in this issue, get the food they need to get through the day, and the opportunities they need to set them up for success in the future. By partnering with other non-profit organizations and health care providers in our area, we are making a bigger impact than ever on our community. We can’t wait to share our efforts with you this year.
Spring is the time for growth and renewal, and here at the Food Bank we are in the midst of both. We hope you are as excited about our journey as we are, after all, none of it would be possible without you.
President & CEO
Capital Area Food Bank
Pilot Program Helps Clients Find Stability
The Capital Area Food Bank of Texas often partners with organizations that serve the same population in an effort to create a more profound impact on people’s lives. While food is critically important to our clients, it is just one piece of the puzzle and clients often need other resources to make their lives more stable.
In an effort to holistically address client needs, the Capital Area Food Bank of Texas ran a pilot program this fall that worked with local partners to bring extra support to some very hard working people.
The project started when Lauren Bednarski, an Economic Opportunity Vista from Feeding Texas working at the Food Bank, interviewed clients and partners to see what their greatest needs were. When clients time and again asked for job readiness, GED and general adult education classes it was clear that there was a need that had to be met.
The Food Bank’s solution was the Scholarship Pantry Pilot Program which utilizes food vouchers to incentivize and support community members while they are working on training opportunities. Vouchers were handed out to students who attended GED, ESL, job readiness, financial education and other life skills classes through the Literacy Coalition, United Way and Goodwill. The vouchers entitled students to double the food from a participating partner pantry, and were a hit with partners and clients alike.
“It’s an innovative way to think about food banking, and it’s not something a lot of food banks are doing,” said Lauren Bednarski. She’s confident that by leveraging Food Bank resources through partner agencies, they will see more client success stories.
“[The clients] have been very grateful for the support. I have one client who came to my office in tears after her first visit to the food pantry. She works full-time, often overtime as well, attends school with us part-time, and struggles to make ends meet. Receiving this assistance took one thing off of her list of things to stress about and the relief brought her to tears,” recounts Michele Mulryan, Social Services Coordinator with the Literacy Coalition of Central Texas.
Michele says the assistance their clients receive through this program has been a huge help both by helping students put food on the table for their families, and by improving their focus in class because they aren’t coming to class hungry. She hopes programs like this can expand and reach more members of the community so they can become connected to resources that assist them in becoming self-sufficient.
“The Capital Area Food Bank recognizes that families need a variety of supportive services to ensure they can achieve long term financial stability. Programs like the Scholarship Pantry Pilot Program work to link the provision of nutritious food with quality education and training, resulting in more stability for the families that we serve,” says Emily De Maria, Senior Director of Programs.
The pilot program is currently being evaluated, but the Food Bank is committed to continuing to offer programs like this one in an effort to help introduce our services to new clients, and bring additional opportunities to our existing clients.
“We’re no longer just an organization that passes out food and that’s all we do. We’re really addressing all of the needs of our clients. Through our work with the community we’re seeing these economic barriers holding our clients back from self sufficiency and family stability. Through this program we’re able to address some of those issues,” says Kara Prior, Agency Relations Capacity Specialist with the Capital Area Food Bank of Texas.