Our Mission

To reduce hunger and help the environment by connecting surplus food with our neighbors in need.

Our Core Values

  • Connection - We will engage and collaborate with our partners and the broader community to address the needs of the community, reduce the power differential between charitable organizations and the communities they serve, and work toward the common good of the community and our mission.

    We will advocate on behalf of the food insecure community and of our planet (via the impact of food waste on our environment).

  • Flexibility - We commit to flexibility to all of our key stakeholders. To our volunteers, we allow them to choose their own schedule of food rescue runs. We work closely with our food contributors and community partners to accommodate changes in schedules and processes. We encourage work/life balance for our staff by providing flexibility in work hours and location. We remain open to change and compromise to improve our service to the community and to keep the process enjoyable for our volunteers.

  • Integrity - We uphold the highest ethical standard and promote trust and respect with all of our constituents. We foster compassion and empathy for the communities we serve and remain humble in our role to serve them.

Our Leadership

Keep Austin Fed began in 2004, when founder Randy Rosens saved high quality catered food from an Austin Museum of Art Fundraising event at Laguna Gloria that was headed to the dumpster. The food fed a group of women and children living at a shelter in South Austin.

Today our volunteers rescue thousands of meals each month, feeding hundreds of our neighbors living with food insecurity, and putting a dent in the amount of food in the U.S. that ends up in a landfill and produces harmful methane gas.

Our Staff and Board are instrumental to keeping operations running smoothly and implementing strategic growth to meet the expanding needs.

OUR STAFF

  • Lisa Barden

    EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

  • Jess Palmer

    PROGRAM DIRECTOR

  • Adrian Gonzalez

    OPERATIONS ASSISTANT

  • Allen Schroeder

    HUB MANAGER

  • Tressa Gilmer

    OPERATIONS ASSISTANT

OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS

  • Russell Cavin

    PRESIDENT

  • Cam Wilson

    VICE-PRESIDENT

  • Jennifer James

    TREASURER

  • Jonathan Parnell

    SECRETARY

  • Angie Luck

  • Mia Medina

  • Hani Farid

  • Ikenna Okoro

  • Argie Gomez

  • Marty Erhart

FOUNDING MEMBERS

  • Randy Rosens

    FOUNDER

  • Ira Kaplan

  • Susan Hensarling Nahkunst

  • Joseph DeLeon

  • Jennifer James