In 2010, your generosity nourished thousands of Central Texans. Thank you for acting on the belief that hunger is unacceptable. Watch this special video to learn about your impact. Please share with your friends and co-workers.

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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.

Beyond providing the community with the opportunity for the physical act of “community service”,  our greatest role is that of inspirer.  If after an afternoon volunteering in Product Recovery sorting cans, or volunteering at one of our signature events, you find yourself talking or thinking about the causes and possible solution to the hunger crisis, then we’re on the right track.

Ryan Jackson, photojournalism major at the University of Texas at Austin, recently produced this documentary on CAFB’s volunteer program.

Did your volunteer experience spark a larger hunger discussion? Tell us about it.

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Head to the Alamo Drafthouse on South Lamar on Thursday, December 16 for the best movie combo you can imagine: a screening of O Brother, Where Art Thou; a delectable gourmet dinner; and the great feeling that a portion of ticket proceeds are going to the Capital Area Food Bank of Texas.

Loosely based on Homer’s epic poem “The Odyssey,” O Brother, Where Art Thou follows three escaped prisoners during their extremely strange but comical journey set in 1930’s Mississippi. While you watch the movie, you’ll be served a delicious (and slightly themed) four-course meal prepared by Alamo Executive Chef John Bullington.

The movie starts at 7 p.m. and tickets are $61. Worried about the price? This is a great chance to help feed hungry families by simply enjoying an incredible film and dinner experience. Plus, it’s only a little more than you’d pay for a normal movie (after ticket, popcorn, drink and candy) anyway.

For more details, click here.

Ready, Set, Bag! is a documentary that celebrates the unsung hero of the grocery store world – the grocery store bagger – and showcases the talents of the best baggers in the country as they compete for the title of “Best Bagger in America.” Watch the trailer.

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Through the power of social media, and Groupon, the filmmakers are raising money for food banks across the nation including CAFB!

Ready, Set Bag! is playing on Monday, Nov. 22 at Alamo Lake Creek (13729 Research Blvd., 78750) and Tuesday, Nov. 23 at Alamo Ritz (320 E 6th Street, 78701). Showtimes are 7 p.m.

Here’s how you can make an impact on hunger:

• $1 of each regular-priced ticket at the theater will go to CAFB
• Save $1 on your ticket price by bringing your donation of three non-perishable food items to the theater
• Participate in their Virtual Food Drive.
• Shop online and 10 percent of the proceeds benefit Feeding America.
• Revenue from the videos on their bliptv channel (I highly recommend the “How to Be a Good Bagger” clip) goes to Feeding America.

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.

If you followed last week’s Food Stamps Challenge, you may be wondering about the current state of SNAP. First and foremost, increasing enrollment in this program is essential to our mission to nourish hungry central Texans.  When more qualified families access SNAP, we can we can provide for more families that don’t qualify but still need help.

With SNAP on the chopping block and economic recovery a ways away, demand will most likely remain high.  We’re working with the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) through our SNAP outreach program.  And the results are paying off with increased enrollment and reduced time to receive benefits.  Take a look.

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In 1981, concerned community members recognized the need for emergency food assistance in Central Texas and formed the Capital Area Food Bank of Texas. We were the second food bank in Texas. In the first year, fewer than 330,000 pounds of food were recovered, stored and distributed. Today, we distributed more than 15 million pounds of food each year across 21 Central Texas counties.

Clearly, feeding the community is no small task – especially these days. Spend a few minutes – 3 minutes 50 seconds to be exact – and learn how we do it and why “We are Austin”.

Thank you, CBS 42 KEYE for producing this video.