New pantries to help increase food access for families in high-need school communities
Austin, TX – The Central Texas Food Bank (CTFB) and Austin ISD are deepening a shared commitment to increasing food access for students and their families by establishing six new Feeding Futures School Pantry locations in elementary schools across the district. The new pantries will be located inside Barbara Jordan Elementary School, Katherine A. Cook Elementary School, Ortega Elementary School, Padrón Elementary School, Pérez Elementary School, and Walnut Creek Elementary School. Together, these new locations expand upon the first AISD Feeding Futures School Pantry, which opened at Galindo Elementary School in 2025.
CTFB will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony for this expansion on January 13 at 9 a.m. at Pérez Elementary School, located at 7500 South Pleasant Valley Road.
The Feeding Futures School Pantry program is designed to ensure families have easy access to nutritious food including fresh produce, protein, dairy, and pantry staples on their child’s campus. Each pantry offers a welcoming market-style shopping experience, helping families choose foods that best match their household needs.
“Too many of our community's children feel the burden of hunger,” said Sari Vatske, Central Texas Food Bank President and CEO. “By expanding the Feeding Futures School Pantry program to five additional schools, we’re providing a reliable foundation for each child's future. When kids have dependable access to nutritious food, they show stronger attendance, better grades, and better behavior in the classroom. This work is about nourishing students today to positively impact their educational and employment future.”
The Feeding Futures School Pantry program strengthens partnerships with school districts to place food resources directly where families already are. All participating campuses serve large populations of students enrolled in free or reduced-price meal programs and face disproportionately high barriers to consistent, nutritious food access. The addition of these schools brings the total number of CTFB school pantries in its 21-county region to 15.
“We are grateful for our continued partnership with the Central Texas Food Bank and their commitment to meeting families where they are,” said AISD Superintendent Matias Segura. “These school pantries are open to all Austin ISD families, ensuring parents can access nutritious food in a welcoming, familiar environment. When we remove barriers to basic needs, we strengthen our entire school community and create the conditions for students to thrive.”
This program is a true partnership operation. While CTFB provides the food, refrigeration and storage units, it is the school districts who oversee the operations. Austin Voices for Education and Youth will manage and staff the Perez and Walnut Creek locations.
Across Travis County, 18% of residents experience food insecurity, including more than 61,000 children. By placing pantries inside schools, CTFB removes transportation barriers, reduces stigma, and equips students and families with consistent, nutritious options during weekends, breaks, and moments of financial strain.
CTFB continues to evaluate needs across its 21-county service area to strengthen existing programming and create opportunities that reinforce long-term family stability.
