Mobile Food Pantry delivers more than food

“Bringing Healthy Food and Hope to Central Texans” reads the side of the Food Bank’s 18-wheeler. The Central Texas Mobile Food Pantry of Austin does indeed bring free food and groceries to Marlin, for Marlin and surrounding communities. 

It brings also an opportunity for neighbors to come together to help one another. Answering the call to service, Rotary Club member Bettye Tarver helped distribute food on Tuesday, Aug. 22, 2023. 

“If we can be a little part of people’s day that is bright, then that’s the mission of serving people with dignity,” said Rotary Club of Marlin President Letitia Estep, encouraging more to volunteer.

The truck visits Marlin once a month, on the fourth Tuesday of every month, from 9:30 to 11 a.m., at the parking lot of First Baptist Church Marlin.

Central Texas Food Pantry can help alleviate food insecurity. It delivers fresh, refrigerated, frozen foods, plus sometimes personal hygiene items. This helps expand offerings like fruit, vegetables, proteins (chicken, beef, pork, etc.), and dairy products. Instead of having to rely largely on shelf-stable offerings at food pantries, people have easy access to healthy meals and fresh ingredients. 

 The Central Texas Food Pantry is a dependable solution to making healthful food more accessible. Its monthly deliveries in a trailer able to haul thousands of pounds of food are designed to assist underserved communities and reach people that need food.  

Operated as a drive-through distribution, clients remain in their vehicles as volunteers place fresh produce, boxed goods, bakery items, dairy items and meats immediately into the backs of vehicles. It breaks down the barriers that prevent families, students, the elderly, and disabled people from getting healthy food. It also helps cut down on food waste and the high costs associated with it.

All in need of food assistance are welcome to attend the mobile food pantry distribution. And, when supporters donate to the food bank, they support this kind of innovative approach to helping communities in which no resident suffers from hunger.