Starting Monday, August 18, Austin Community College District (ACC) will open Riverbat Bites Food Pantries. Each ACC campus will feature a stocked pantry with healthy groceries, snacks, and hygiene items, all available free of charge.
Every year, ACC serves more than 74,000 students. Many are the first in their families to attend college. More than 60% are classified as low-income and must balance school with work, caregiving, or other responsibilities. The Riverbat Bites expansion is part of a broader collegewide effort to remove barriers and create pathways to academic and career success.
“We know basic needs like food, housing, and child care directly affect whether a student can stay in school. Meeting students’ basic needs is essential to helping them persist, complete their degrees, and transform their lives,” says Cara Crowley, ACC Special Advisor to the Chancellor for Basic Needs Systems. “This is about more than food. It’s about opening doors for students, supporting their families, and building a stronger, more resilient Central Texas.”
A recent survey of ACC students found 48% are food insecure, yet 51% didn’t know food pantries were available on campus.
The expanded Riverbat Bites Food Pantries are designed to make sure students have what they need to stay focused and succeed. Students can check in with their ACC student ID. The College will provide help enrolling in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to connect students with additional food support.
For more information and hours on each campus, visit austincc.edu/foodpantry.
I have been asked if individuals can donate to the ACC food pantry. Can you answer this and if the answer is ‘yes’ to whom I should direct my friends to contact to arrange such a donation. Thank you.
If it is a cash donation, you will need to work with the ACC Foundation. There is a food pantry account, and all cash donations can be placed there. austincc.edu/foundation
If it is a food or hygiene donation, you can contact the Student Care Center to set up a time for the donation drop-off. austincc.edu/studentcarecenter
Is this available to ACC CE students as well?
Yes! It is open to ALL ACC students. All you need is your ACC ID number and Blackboard password.
The Student Care Center at Highland is now the Riverbat Bites Food Pantry at Highland. We have food pantries on all campuses. Please see the food access website for location and hours. The food pantries are meant to help students, faculty, and staff alleviate short-term and long-term food insecurity. Advocates connect with students who frequently use the pantry to assess students’ needs holistically, aiming to address the root or foundation of their issue. We have staff who assist with completing WIC, SNAP, and TANF enrollment application forms.