Once again, Randalls and KEYE TV want to make sure no child goes hungry this summer.  They’ve teamed up for one of the largest summer food drives in Central Texas and they need your help.  Now through Sunday, July 24 find a donation opportunity that works best for you.

1. Purchase a pre-packaged bag full of healthy foods at your neighborhood Randalls store priced from $7 – $10 each.
2. Grab a $1 or $5 scan tag at the check out to make a cash donation with your final grocery bill.
3. Look for the Food for Families donation barrel at Randalls stores and donate healthy, non-perishable food.
4. Donate online. Every $1 provides $5 worth of nutritious food to the Food Bank.

So easy.  So simple. So needed.

Thank you, Randalls and KEYE!

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It’s that time of the year again – time to join the biggest youth-led food and fund drive in Central Texas.  Each year we like to mix it up and encourage more people to participate.  Last year, Tyson Foods challenged you to comment on their blog , which triggered a 100-pound food donation.

This year, along with Austin’s competing television networks, radio stations, print publications, grocery stores and other community  partners, we’re teaming up with the Boy Scouts of Central Texas to reach our goal of one million meals.  We can achieve our goal with fun activities for you online and in your Central Texas community. Here’s how you can get involved:

1. Join a team. Search online to find your team or start a new team and get registered.

2. Register your team for MLK Day. When you register online, you’ll receive your monthly e-newsletter and a free Resource Kit to help promote your event.

3. Enter the CAFB Souper Bowl of Caring Blog Contest.

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Show off your creative talent by sending us a blog post with a photo gallery or video about your work with Souper Bowl of Caring.  Winning entries will be featured on our blog at blog.austinfoodbank.org and on our Facebook page.

You’ll also get a limited edition Hunger is UNacceptable t-shirt and water bottle, as well as a special guided tour of the Food Bank for you and your friends.  This is a great opportunity for youth to build their resume, for college applications, and to demonstrate leadership in your community. Click here to enter.

Contest Rules

• It must be about Souper Bowl of Caring.
• It must mention our goal of raising 1 million meals.
• It must include the words “Hunger is unacceptable.”
• Videos must be no longer than 3 minutes.

4. Donate online. Take a virtual shopping trip by putting food items into your online shopping cart. Then click “Donate” to donate the cost of those items to the Food Bank. It’s a fun way to help end hunger!

5. Support the “Scouting for Food” Food Drive

The Capitol Area Council Boy Scouts will be conducting a Food and Fund Drive in many areas throughout Central Texas. Scouts will leave door hangers on your door the week of January 22 – 29 and return to pick up non-perishable food items the following Saturday.  Your donation will support a Capital Area Food Bank Partner Agency in your community.

On February 5, you’re invited to join us for the 101st anniversary celebration of the Scouting movement at the 62nd annual Boy Scout Parade and Report to the State of Texas in conjunction with the Souper Bowl of Caring. Watch the Boy Scouts State Parade on Congress Avenue where the scouts will collect healthy, non-perishable food donations for our Central Texas neighbors in need.

6. Donate at your local Randalls, H-E-B and Central Market’s

While you’re shopping for snacks for game day, consider sharing a meal with those in need. Purchase pre-packaged bags of most-needed items or look for tear-off coupons in the amounts of $1, $3 and $5 at checkout stands in area Randalls, H-E-B and Central Market grocery stores.  Your purchase of a pre-packaged bag at either retailer provides two meals for a family of four.

7. Participate in Souper Bowl of Caring and save on Harlem Globetrotters tickets

The Harlem Globetrotters “4 Times the Fun” World Tour is coming to Austin on Friday, January 28.  When you support Souper Bowl of Caring you’ll save $7 on tickets. Learn more.

Thank you, Partners:

HEB, Central Market, Randalls, FOX 7, News 8, KEYE TV, KVUE-TV, TeleFutura, Telemundo, Univision, The CW, My Austin TV, KVET, KASE 101, AM 1300 The Zone, Buena 104.3, La Jefa 107.7, Relevant Radio 970 AM, The Statesman, The Jewish Outlook, Ahora sí, Capitol Area Council Boy Scouts of America, and Harlem Globetrotters.

Yesterday, Randalls stopped by to donate 1,000  frozen turkeys (more than 11,000 pounds), just in time for the holidays.

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Thank you, Randalls!

What can you do to become a good neighbor?

Well, it’s actually quite simple.  Local Randalls stores have a Good Neighbor Program and make it easy to participate.

The Good Neighbor Program allows you to link your Randalls Remarkable Card with the Capital Area Food Bank.  Each time you use your card, one percent of the total purchase is donated to the Food Bank. In essence, you will be contributing a percentage of your purchase to help feed hungry Central Texans—at no cost to you.

Get started today by linking our account number (#212) to your Randalls Card. Click here for more information about the program. You can also visit your local Randalls store to sign up.

While $5 donation provides $25 worth of food, we also greatly appreciate healthy, non-perishable food donations.  Provide food from your pantry or shopping trip to the tables of a local family in need for the holidays.

1. H-E-B Holiday Food Drive
Now through November 23

Look for the white collection boxes at Austin-area H-E-B stores to donate non-perishable food items.  At select stores, you can purchase and donate a pre-packaged bag of food for $5.50.  Your donation will have double the impact; H-E-B will match the monetary value of your donation and present a check to the Food Bank at the annual Feast of Sharing dinner.

2. CANstruction
November 13 through 21 at Barton Creek Mall
Competing teams led by local architects, engineers and builders showcase their talents by designing and building giant sculptures made entirely of canned foods.  At the end of CANstruction, all of the food is donated to the Food Bank.  Look for donation barrels throughout the mall.  You can also donate funds to vote for your favorite structure!

3. Join Randalls – donate a frozen turkey
Now through the holiday season.

On November 16, Randalls is delivering 1,000 frozen turkeys to the Food Bank. Join them by bringing a frozen turkey to the Food Bank this holiday season and we’ll deliver it to a family in need. For safety, turkeys MUST be frozen the entire time. We cannot accept partially frozen or fresh turkeys. When you link your Randalls Remarkable Card with the Food Bank’s account number (#212), one percent of your purchase is donated to us.  It’s like giving twice!

4. Greater Texas Federal Credit Union “Give Hope” Food Drive
November 22 through December 13

KGSR and Greater Texas Federal Credit Union (GTFCU) join together to “Give Hope” to central Texas families in need.  Look for donation boxes at Austin-area Greater Texas Federal Credit Union locations. Come out December 11^th to the GTFCU on Lamar and donate for a chance at fun and prizes from KGSR.

5. Host Your Own Food & Fund Drive

Register online to start a Food & Fund Drive in your community.  We make it easy with a coordinator’s kit chock-full of helpful tips to make your event a success. For as little as $10 you can provide a traditional, home cooked, holiday meal for one of our neighbors in need. Think you can raise more than 500 pounds of food?  We’ll arrange to pick up your donation.

6. Sun Harvest Help Us Bag Hunger Food Drive
Now through November 30

Look for pre-packaged bags of food near the checkout counter.  What an easy way to donate!

7. Drop off your donation anytime.

You can drop off non-perishable food donations at the Food Bank anytime.  Look for the secure drop box at the entrance or speak with a Food Bank representative during business hours 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. We’re closed for the Thanksgiving holiday, November 25 – 26.

8. Walmart Fighting Hunger Together Food Drive
Now through November 22

Look for the white donation boxes at select Austin-area Walmart stores.

9. Wildflower Center Holiday Luminations
Saturday and Sunday, December 11 and 12, 6 to 9 p.m.

Enjoy gardens lighted with more than 3,000 luminarias and 5,000 twinkle lights, listen to music of the season, create snowflakes, wreaths and ornaments in the Visitors Gallery, or stop by the café to order festive holiday items. Admission is free with two canned food items for the Capital Area Food Bank. For more information, please visit: http://www.wildflower.org/luminations/

10. 6th annual InStep Food Drive
Now through November 24

Stop by InStep for that perfect pair of shoes.  They offer a wide variety of women’s and men’s, fashion, comfort, everyday, orthopedic, orthotic friendly shoes and sandals for your soles.  Your soul will feel good knowing you helped nourish hungry central Texans when you receive 10 percent off your purchase with the donation of two non-perishable food items. Visit http://www.instepaustin.com

Thank you, Central Texas, for donating food and funds at Austin-area Randalls, and for leaving bags of healthy, nonperishable food for Capitol Area Boy Scouts to pick up.  More than $10,000 and 500,000 pounds of food was collected through this food drive.  Your support will make an impact in the lives of thousands of Central Texans who are more at risk of hunger during the summer months than any other time of the year.

A special thank you goes to our sponsors: KEYE TV, Capitol Area Council Boy Scouts of America and Randalls.

If you’d like to learn more about our upcoming events, and find out how you can take part, sign up for our Community Events e-Newsletter today. Each quarter, you’ll get tips on how to raise food and funds, read inspiring stories about events in the community, learn about special events and volunteer opportunities, and much more.

You can also visit our events page at http://www.austinfoodbank.org/events/ for a list of upcoming community events, and follow @events4good on Twitter.

KEYE TV is teaming up with Randalls grocery stores and the Capitol Area Boy Scouts for the 10th annual Food Drive benefiting the Food Bank. Here are three ways to participate:

1. If you received a door hanger about the drive,  Boy Scouts will deliver your donation to the Food Bank. Place healthy, non-perishable food on your doorstep for Boy Scouts to pick up on Saturday, July 31. Click here to  see what items we need the most.
   
2. Donate food at your local Randalls. Look for collection barrels at any Austin-area Randalls or purchase pre-packaged bags of food at the entrance of participating stores.
3. Donate funds.  You can add $1 or $5 to your Randalls grocery bill upon checkout using special scan coupons, or click here to donate online to the Food Bank. Your donation goes a long way— every $5 donation provides $25 worth of nutritious food for hungry Central Texans.

Fun Facts:

• The Capitol Area Boy Scouts’ scouting for food program has helped feed hungry Central Texans since the 80′s.
• In 2009, the food drive helped raise more than $13,000 and 60,000 pounds of food for hungry Central Texans.
• More than 1,000 pre-packaged bags were purchased in 2009.

Thank you to our sponsors: KEYE TV, Randalls, and Capitol Area Boy Scouts.

We kicked off the Annual Souper Bowl of Caring (SBoC) Food and Fund Drive, today, at St. Ignatius Martyr Catholic Church. This national event uses Super Bowl weekend to mobilize youth to fight hunger and poverty in local communities. For more info click here.

It began in the wee hours of the morning with live shots from Austin’s top media outlets at a local Randalls grocery store.

The press conference began at 10:30 a.m., at St. Ignatius Church. David Davenport speaks –

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A student’s interviewed. He might be on to something –

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A goal has been set to raise 500,000 pounds of food! Join us by donating at any Randalls or H-E-B by purchasing a pre-packaged bag of our most-needed non-perishable food items, or present your cashier with a scan-coupon at check out. You can also donate online.

Nothing beats collaboration to help end hunger. This time, local media and business team up and encourage the community to give.

Yesterday, we kicked off the 8th Annual CBS-42 KEYE Food & Fund Drive with our friends, Chris with CBS-42 KEYE and Connie with Randalls.

We’ll be on our “tour” of Randalls stores every day of the drive (through Sunday, July 27 ) going live on air mornings, 5 p.m., and 6 p.m.

Friday morning, Fred Cantu and Liz Dannheim will broadcast their morning show live from the Randalls at Research & Braker. Come out and say hi!

Choose how you’d like to participate in this year’s drive:

• Go to any area Randalls grocery store. At the register, tear off a $1 or $5 scan coupon and hand it to the cashier. The donation will be added to your final grocery bill.
• Or buy a pre-packaged bag of the Food Bank’s most-needed items. Look for bags in the front of each Randalls.
• Or drop off non-perishable food items. Check for specially-marked barrels in each Randalls store.
• Or donate online on the Food Bank website.

BIG thanks to CBS-42 KEYE and Randalls for 8 years of enthusiasm and committment to this drive.

Liz Dannheim with CBS-42 talks to Otis Jackson, a volunteer with Bastrop County Food Pantry for a Food Drive story. Jackson said it costs $125 to fill the gas tank on their van, and that cuts into their food budget.

Yesterday’s news coverage on CBS-42 KEYE:
Food Banks Desperate for More Supplies as Need Rises