Inside the Central Texas Food Bank’s Winter Storm Response: How Meals Reach Shelters and Warming Centers
As winter storms bring freezing temperatures, power outages, and closed grocery stores across Central Texas, one organization is working behind the scenes to keep food flowing to those who need it most: the Central Texas Food Bank (CTFB). Serving 21 counties and more than 610,000 food-insecure residents each year, CTFB’s role in disaster response isn’t just a contingency — it’s a core function of their everyday mission.
From downtown Austin to rural communities like San Saba and Limestone counties, when families ask, “Where can I find food during an emergency?” — the Central Texas Food Bank already has a plan in motion.
A System Built for Emergencies, Not Just Storms
When winter weather strikes and the City of Austin activates overflow shelters or warming centers, CTFB steps in immediately to provide hot meals, snacks, and bottled water. This was evident during the January 23–28 ice emergency when the city opened four overflow shelters — one more than usual — along with three additional cold weather shelters.
Each shelter was stocked with ready-to-eat meals prepared in CTFB’s commercial kitchens or pulled from emergency reserves. Their drivers navigated icy conditions to deliver food across Austin and into surrounding counties, ensuring that individuals staying in shelters and those visiting daytime warming centers had access to nourishing meals.
This rapid response is made possible through a standing partnership with Austin Emergency Management. The arrangement allows the city to activate CTFB on short notice for:
- Emergency mobile food pantry distributions
- Nutritious, ready-to-serve meals
- Food support tailored to the scope of each event
These services are reimbursed by the city, allowing the Food Bank to focus on food delivery without being slowed down by red tape.
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“Emergency Response Is What We Do Every Day”
“Emergency response is what we do every day — not just when the forecast turns severe,” said Sari Vatske, President and CEO of the Central Texas Food Bank. “We’re honored to partner with the City of Austin, Travis County, surrounding counties, and local emergency responders to ensure Central Texans continue to have access to nutritious food during sudden weather events.”
This dedication is built into every level of their organization, from logistics teams preparing thousands of meals in advance, to food bankers packing boxes and loading trucks, to coordination with local governments and disaster response agencies. Even before the first shelter opens its doors, CTFB is already in motion.
Local Coordination with National Strength
CTFB doesn’t operate alone. As a proud member of Feeding America and Feeding Texas, the Central Texas Food Bank has access to a national network of 200 food banks, meaning it can receive support in the form of food or staffing if an event overwhelms local resources.
They also collaborate with:
- Travis County Emergency Management
- Emergency managers in surrounding counties
- Local nonprofit agencies and shelters
This coordination ensures resources are delivered equitably and efficiently — whether it’s a warming center in Hays County or a shelter in downtown Austin.
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Meals, Knowledge, and Hope
While emergency feeding is a vital part of CTFB’s mission, it’s just one of many services they provide across the region. As a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit, the Central Texas Food Bank focuses on three major impact areas:
- Sharing food and healthy eating knowledge with families through direct food distribution, nutrition education, and community programs.
- Helping families access federal food programs, such as SNAP (formerly food stamps), by assisting with enrollment and support services.
- Providing food at low or no cost to over 250 community partners, such as food pantries, soup kitchens, and schools.
In 2025 alone, CTFB distributed nearly 54 million meals — many during extreme heat, flooding, and winter emergencies — ensuring that no Central Texan goes hungry, no matter the conditions.
Putting Good Food Within Reach, Rain or Shine
From Bell to Blanco, Milam to McLennan counties, the Central Texas Food Bank’s reach is vast. Their 21-county service area spans urban neighborhoods and rural towns alike, and their goal remains the same: to provide immediate, equitable access to nutritious food — whether through planned food distributions or emergency response missions.
For Central Texans wondering what happens behind the scenes when the weather turns dangerous — CTFB is already moving, cooking, packing, and delivering. Not because it’s an emergency, but because that’s what they do every day.
To support or learn more about how the Central Texas Food Bank prepares for emergencies and feeds the community year-round, visit centraltexasfoodbank.org.
Tiffany Krenek has been on the My Neighborhood News team since August 2021. She is passionate about curating and sharing content that enriches the lives of our readers in a personal, meaningful way. A loving mother and wife, Tiffany and her family live in the West Houston/Cypress region.