“We’ve struggled with too little, too much,” said Josh Lit, General Manager and one of Batch’s co-founders. “And we don’t struggle with that anymore because now if there’s too much, we know it’s going to a good place.”

While there are many organizations in Austin dedicated to addressing the needs of families and individuals, Everette sees her personal experience with poverty and her long-term commitment to her clients as setting Saffron Trust apart. “All this exorbitant money is being spent, and not one woman has been cycled out of poverty. She may not have been evicted, but she has not been cycled out of poverty,” said Everette. “With me, lives change. I don’t just tell women how to do something. I walk them through it, give them the money to do it alongside me. That’s the difference.”

As national and state changes in law and policy create an uncertain future for many of our neighbors, taking action locally is increasingly important. Keep Austin Fed is committed to upholding the dignity of all our neighbors and advocating for food as a human right. By reducing food waste and insecurity, we look toward a more equitable and more sustainable future for everyone.

In her seven months as a volunteer, Olivia has completed more than 70 rescues and adopted three early morning runs. She has also formed relationships with the food donors and recipient partners she meets each week and used her rescues to establish a routine in her new city. “You’re moving somewhere, and everything is new. There’s no sense of community yet,” said Olivia. “But [volunteering] is a commitment to these people that you’re going to show up every day as well as a commitment to yourself.”

In their new role as Operations Assistant, Louis will manage Keep Austin Fed’s cold storage hub, prepare incoming and outgoing donations, collaborate with volunteers and partner organizations, and ensure all food rescues are covered. After their first two weeks with Keep Austin Fed, Louis says they appreciate the drive of Keep Austin Fed’s weekly volunteers and their shared commitment to feeding neighbors in need. “Volunteers are really the backbone of Keep Austin Fed, and I got to see the different ways that volunteers organize and communicate. I also have learned a lot more about Austin, the town I grew up in, and the different organizations helping people with access to food,” said Louis.

Volunteering in any form is a powerful tool to teach students about helping others. “[Volunteering] instills that internal desire to give back and to do good in the world and exposes [students] to situations that they might not otherwise see,” said Allison Johnson, President of the Westlake chapter of YMSL and Keep Austin Fed board member. “It’s a great way for them to understand what the needs are in the community and that if we’re not addressing those needs, then these people aren’t being helped.”

After nearly 20 years of rescuing food, Rosemary sees food access as a critical piece of her activism. “The hunger crisis in this country is absolutely unacceptable,” said Rosemary. “I’m very passionate about food rescue and making sure everyone’s fed. Having lived in food deserts myself, I know what it means to not have access to good quality food.”

Becoming an Environmental Partner highlights the environmental impact of our work and connects us with businesses who care deeply about sustainability. Together, we can expand our efforts, keep more food out of the landfill, and get nutritious meals into the hands of our neighbors.

More than anything, Jill hopes to instill the importance of giving back in her two sons. “I hope that they grow up to have a heart of service… and see themselves as part of a collective,” said Jill.

Christina is passionate about social issues and sees food access as critical to the well-being of individuals and communities. “I feel like nutritious food is a necessity and a human right that everyone should have access to, so it’s something that’s near and dear to me.”

This month, Keep Austin Fed is celebrating the many businesses that donate their surplus food to the community. Our food donors differ in size and industry, but they are united in their desire to nourish their neighbors and to reduce organizational food waste.

Every volunteer at Keep Austin Fed brings a unique set of skills and ideas to the organization. Lloyd Smith, our July volunteer spotlight, supports Keep Austin Fed’s mission with his dedication, grit, and joyful attitude.

One of the most frequently asked questions we get is “where do you take all of the food that gets donated to you?” Keep Austin Fed provides healthy food access to diverse communities in the Austin area through strong partnerships with other nonprofits addressing the root causes of food insecurity.

This past week, I had the opportunity to attend my first ReFED Summit in Seattle and thoroughly enjoyed the three-day event. While the food system faces enormous challenges and uncertainties, the overall tone was one of positivity, collaboration, and a firm resolve to double- and triple-down on addressing food waste.

Less than a year after opening, Hattie B’s new Austin location began its partnership with Keep Austin Fed. Each week, the store donates its surplus chicken back to the community, keeping food out of the landfill and easing barriers to food access.

Meet our two newest team members - Katherine and John. Katherine is our first Outreach Coordinator and joins us full-time, thanks to a supporting grant from Glimmer Austin. John is taking over our weekend Operations Assistant duties. Please join us in welcoming them both to the team!

In 2015, I took a leap and moved to Austin with a bare bones plan and hope. One of the first things I did was become a volunteer with Keep Austin Fed. My first rescue was the Trader Joe’s run during orientation. We laid out boxes and boxes of food in the parking lot, so much that it took about six cars to drop off to recipients. I was astonished by the amount and quality of the food that would have gone to waste.

April 10-16th is Food Waste Prevention Week, and an opportunity to show how reducing food waste helps address food insecurity in our communities. Rescuing surplus food and redistributing it is key to Keep Austin Fed’s (KAF) mission, and the reason why we partner with dozens of local food businesses and community organizations.

No matter what season it is, our Keep Austin Fed volunteers are always ready to spring into food-rescue action and connect surplus wholesome food to those who need it most. April marks National Volunteer Appreciation Month, a time to recognize the dedicated people who donate their spare time to improve their communities. The 175 active volunteers that make up KAF play a significant role in our mission to reduce food waste and hunger in Austin.