Central Texas Food Bank Opens New, State-of-the-Art Waco Distribution Facility

WACO, TX – August 25, 2026 – On Tuesday, August 25, the Central Texas Food Bank (CTFB) celebrated the grand opening of its new, 64,000-square-foot Waco distribution facility at 1402 Gholson Road. The location brings vital CTFB services and programs closer to communities in McLennan County and surrounding areas, including an on-site market; a state-of-the-art commercial production kitchen; workforce training programs; a warehouse for rapid food inspection, sorting, and distribution; and a future garden.

The Central Texas Food Bank commemorated the opening of the Waco facility and onset of operations with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and remarks from local community leaders, including Mayor Jim Holmes and CTFB President and CEO Sari Vatske, followed by a tour of the facility. The facility is now fully operational Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. -5:00 p.m., and volunteer hours are available for local community members. The on-site market is open Tuesday through Friday from 12:00-5:00 p.m.; visits are open to the public by appointment.

“The Central Texas Food Bank has served Waco and the surrounding communities since 1981 and is now honored to do so with a front-facing community resource that solidifies our investment in the nine northern counties of our service area,” said Sari Vatske, President and CEO of Central Texas Food Bank. “Central Texas is growing and food insecurity is changing so yesterday’s strategy and yesterday’s infrastructure needed refreshing to help meet the increased need our neighbors are now experiencing.”

Data from CTFB’s Food Access Convening Tool (FACT) revealed that one out of every five neighbors (19.5 percent) in the nine northern counties of its 21-county service territory—Bell, Coryell, Falls, Freestone, Lampasas, Limestone, Mills, McLennan, and San Saba—experiences food insecurity, compared to 15.4 percent in southern counties.

The Central Texas Food Bank is the largest hunger-relief organization in Central Texas and is the only Feeding America food bank in the region. The commitment to serving all Central Texans is at the heart of the organization’s mission.

For more information about the facility or to get involved, visit: https://www.centraltexasfoodbank.org/waco-facility