Texas has some of the highest rates of poverty and food insecurity in the nation - well above the national average. One in five Texas children lives in poverty. One-in-four Texas children lives in a household without enough food. In the Capital Area Food Bank of Texas’ service area, 35 percent of household members receiving food are children, while the Texas child poverty rate is 23.2 percent.

There is no doubt that the decrease in financial donations impacting nearly all social sector organizations has taken a severe toll on CAFB. That said, we are committed to expanding services, distributing more food and assisting our clients and Partner Agencies through the difficulties ahead. We will continue to grow programs serving hungry Texas children, such as our Kids Cafe program.

An official program of Feeding America, there are more than 1,600 locally operated Kids Cafes across the nation. The Capital Area Food Bank of Texas operates 31 Kids Cafes in Central Texas, serving more than 25,000 meals to more than 2,800 children in need each month.

This after-school program provides a safe, nurturing place where neighborhood children receive a hot, nutritious dinner, as well as help with homework from caring individuals. The day-to-day struggles low-income children face when they don’t have that warm meal or after-school snack to get them though homework time is real. Just watch the video.

The bill that we’re hoping to get passed (SB 944/ HB 1622) in the Texas Legislature will provide children, just like those in the video, with a consistent source of healthy foods. Learn how you can take action in support of this bill at our Action Center.