Central Texas Food Bank, Austin ISD and Austin Voices open free pantries at six elementary schools

January 16, 2026

Austin Independent School District joined forces with the Central Texas Food Bank and Austin Voices to open free food pantries at six elementary schools in the district. The sites began operating to give families a reliable source of groceries on a weekly basis, with partner organizations managing supplies and logistics.

The initiative places food distribution inside schools to make access more convenient for families with young children. By situating pantries on campus, partners aim to reduce transportation and timing barriers that can keep households from getting enough nutritious food.

Officials from the district and the nonprofits worked together to establish the program, coordinating deliveries and setting schedules for when families can pick up items. The pantries focus on providing healthy grocery options, and the weekly cadence is intended to ensure ongoing support rather than one-time relief.

School staff and partner organization representatives will oversee pantry operations and communicate availability and pickup details with families. The program also creates a regular point of contact between families and school-based services, which can help connect households with additional supports when needed.

Community-based food distribution at schools has become a common approach to address child and family food insecurity, and this effort follows that model by bringing groceries to where students already spend their day. Partners say the arrangement should help stabilize household food supplies during the school year, while reducing stress for families balancing work and childcare.

Families who attend the participating elementary schools can access the weekly pantry distributions, and the partnership plans to continue coordinating supply and staffing. The district and nonprofit partners will monitor operations as the program moves forward, with the goal of maintaining steady access to nutritious food for students and their families.