Food access continues to be a struggle for many in ACC’s service area.
“Over 50% of ACC students report some level of food insecurity,” says Steve Christopher, associate vice chancellor of Student Accessibility & Social Support Resources. “If our students are hungry during class or are worried about where their next meal is coming from, they will have difficulty focusing on the task at hand — which is learning complex and challenging course content.”
To provide food security for students, the College’s Social Support Resource Development (SSRD) Office teams up with community partners. Thanks to these collaborations, 736,337 pounds of food went to students, employees, and community members during academic year (AY) 2023-24 — that’s a 137% increase over AY2022-23 (310,572 pounds).
Most food support events on campus are distributed at Grocery Pick-Up events and produce box distributions. Additionally, ACC’s new Student Care Center came online in fall 2023, adding significantly to the amount of food distributed this year, and the College piloted Free Meal and Farmers Market-style events in the spring.
Overall, ACC saw an increase of 129% more households receiving groceries and produce boxes in AY2023-24 (19,874 households) than in AY2022-23 (8,673 households).
AY2023-24 Support by the Numbers
| Grocery Pick-Up Events – 73 total events at 6 campuses – Grocery Pick-Up events increased by nearly 20% from last year – 478,480 pounds of groceries – 11,114 households served – 23% of households affiliated with ACC Produce Box Events – 44 total distributions at 4 campuses – Produce box distributions up approximately 29% from last year – 44,616 pounds of food – 3,718 households served – 100% of households affiliated with ACC Free Meal and Farmers Market-Style Events Pilot – 3 total events at Riverside Campus – 9,800 pounds of food – 735 households served – 98% of households affiliated with ACC Student Care Center – Open weekdays on Highland Campus – 203,441 pounds of groceries – 4,307 households served – 100% of households affiliated with ACC |
The Grocery Pick-Up events provide regular opportunities for students and employees — as well as the communities surrounding ACC campuses — to access groceries, including vegetables, fruits, proteins, dairy, grains, and shelf-stable products. The college partners with:
- El Buen Samaritano at the Eastview Campus;
- Central Texas Food Bank at the Riverside, Hays, and Elgin campuses; and
- Hill Country Community Ministries at the Cypress Creek and San Gabriel campuses as part of their Fresh Food For All program.
ACC continued to benefit from a partnership with El Buen Samaritano that distributes Produce Boxes through a grant with Houston’s Common Market. The partnership delivers produce boxes filled with fruits, vegetables, and grains directly to ACC students. Boxes were distributed at the Eastview, Highland, and Northridge campuses.
The college also hosted three Free Meal and Farmers Market-style events in the spring at the Riverside Campus, part of a popular pilot project in collaboration with Central Texas Food Bank with support from the City of Austin. During just three events, 605 students and 115 employees participated in the distribution of 9,800 pounds of fresh produce, proteins, grains, and more while also enjoying a light lunch off the grill in partnership with Blue in Green Grill.
The College’s inaugural Student Care Center opened at ACC Highland in October 2023 to serve as a hub for support. In addition to a well stocked grocery style food mart, students can visit the SCC to connect with resources such as housing, transportation, family support, sexual and reproductive health services and programs, and more. The SCC also has a Food 2 Go section where students, faculty, and staff can pick up snacks and prepared meals at no charge.
The Student Care Center is open at Highland Campus Monday through Friday. Find hours of operation and more information on the Student Care Center web page.
For more information on when free grocery pick-ups are scheduled on ACC campuses and to volunteer at an event, visit austincc.edu/groceries.
To receive regular emails about the free grocery pick-ups, produce boxes, and other essential resources, visit the Social Support Resources Get Connected web page or email [email protected].
If you have any questions or are interested in getting involved, contact Paula McDermott, Social Support Resource Development director, at [email protected].