Austin, Texas – October 4th, 2023: El Buen Samaritano—a leading nonprofit organization bridging Central Texas communities to essential services–is proud to announce the inauguration of a new Mobile Food Pantry Van. This transformative addition to its Food Access program will significantly expand capacity to address food insecurity in Austin and surrounding counties, specifically food deserts in Austin’s Eastern Crescent.
The Mobile Food Pantry Van represents a significant step forward in furthering El Buen’s commitment to create access to food for thousands of Central Texan families facing rising economic challenges. Recently, the region has witnessed a stark increase in food insecurity, with many families struggling to put nutritious meals on the table. Food insecurity is one of the root causes of poor health and by providing access to healthy foods, El Buen strives to address one of the primary social determinants of health.
Austin’s Eastern Crescent (North and Southeastern Austin) has the longest average distances to food retail, lowest household incomes, and fewest transportation options, making it increasingly difficult for individuals and families to access food. El Buen Samaritano has been at the forefront of providing essential and equitable food access and the new Mobile Food Pantry Van will play a pivotal role in this endeavor, equipping the organization to triple the amount of food that can be secured and distributed in these communities.
“The inauguration of our Mobile Food Pantry Van is a significant milestone in our commitment to addressing food insecurity in Central Texas,” said Dr. Rosamaria Murillo, CEO of El Buen Samaritano. “We recognize the very real challenges faced by families in our community and we are dedicated to ensuring that no one goes hungry. This new van will reinforce our program infrastructure, allowing us to reach further and make a lasting impact in our community.”
El Buen Samaritano invites the media, community leaders, and supporters to join them in celebrating the inauguration of their Mobile Food Pantry Van. The event will take place on October 4th, 2023 from 9-11AM at the University of Texas Social Resource Center, located at 5301 Ross Rd Del Valle, TX 78716, We encourage all to take part and experience this exciting milestone.
For more information about El Buen Samaritano and our Food Access program, please visit www.elbuen.org. To support El Buen’s Food Access Programs, you may make a fully tax-deductible contribution of dedicated funds for this vital service at www.elbuen.org/donate.
About El Buen Samaritano:
For 35 years El Buen Samaritano has been providing access to basic needs, education, and health care to Latino families in Central Texas. Our services include Food Access Services and Community Garden, Adult English as a Second Language courses, Adult/Youth Digital Literacy classes, Youth After School and Summer academic experiential learning camps, Financial and Rental Assistance, Health Education, and Access to Health Resources such as COVID-19 vaccines. Through our varied services and support, El Buen Samaritano helps promote greater health and well-being, and, by extension, improved life outcomes for over 22,000 community members.