Every month, 1,200 to 1,300 families visit the Round Rock Area Serving Center’s food pantry.
Moving through the grocery aisles, they leave with full carts of fresh produce, meat and pantry staples. Executive Director Lori Scott said that at a traditional grocery store, this would easily cost a family $250. But due to deep regional partnerships, it costs $8 for the Serving Center to fill that cart.
Last year alone, the Serving Center distributed 1.8 million pounds of food, an 8% increase from the previous year, with this year’s operations pacing 5% to 10% ahead of that volume.
To meet the growing demand, the Serving Center recently completed Phase 2 of its expansion, relocating the food pantry to a facility twice its previous size and allowing the organization to better support neighbors in need.
Client-choice shopping and the everyday ‘back porch pantry’
The pantry expansion, which opened at the end of May, continues to use a client-choice model where volunteers escort families through the aisles. Instead of receiving a pre-packed box of goods, families select items that meet their dietary needs, food allergies or cultural preferences.
The Phase 2 expansion also unlocked an outdoor resource beyond the main aisles, using the former furniture store’s courtyard for bread racks, a refrigerator and freezers.
Staff and volunteers collect fresh food donations six days a week from local restaurants and major retailers, including Costco, Walmart, Target, Sprouts, Randalls and six HEB locations.
When large bulk donations arrive, such as a pallet of watermelons from Costco, the team can wheel the shipment straight into the courtyard for immediate distribution.
While accessing the main food pantry requires a registration voucher limited to one visit per month, the back porch pantry operates with no paperwork, appointments or restrictions. It is open daily to everyone in the community.
“I’m so excited that we were able to expand that area for additional produce and bread, so families can come and check what is available every single day,” Scott said.
Thrift store revenue powers food and housing assistance
The financial engine driving this outreach was established during Phase 1 of the expansion: a new thrift store building that held its ribbon-cutting in February.
The new facility’s economic impact was immediate, with average daily retail sales rising from $1,500 to a steady $2,500.
The community’s enthusiasm for the new retail space was evident during the Serving Center’s first outdoor sidewalk sale. The two-day weekend event drew a large crowd of local shoppers to tables and clothing racks lining the property.
$13,000 in revenue was generated in those two days. Because of that success, organizers now plan to host the outdoor sales quarterly.
This climbing retail revenue directly supports the Serving Center’s mission to keep families housed.
“The whole purpose of the capital campaign and building the new [thrift store] building was to generate our own self-funded source of unrestricted revenue and to become less dependent on grant funding,” Scott said. “We want to be able to provide more financial assistance for our families.”
Currently, the organization provides $100 to $250 to help families cover utility bills or rent payments. The long-term goal is to leverage retail profits to provide $1,000 to $1,500 in direct housing assistance per family, fully covering substantial bills and preventing local residents from facing financial crises.
Looking ahead to Phase 3
The final phase of the campus master plan is progressing in the space previously occupied by the clothing store. Designated for veteran services, Phase 3 will create a centralized service hub on campus.
The Serving Center's vision is to provide the physical infrastructure, including office space and cubicles, to an outside veteran service provider.
Scott has begun showing the layout to local officials, aiming to secure a partner agency, such as an Austin-based veteran organization looking to establish a permanent presence in Williamson County, to operate directly out of the Round Rock campus.
How you can help
As the campus expands, the Serving Center’s need for volunteers has doubled. While local high school students typically fill slots during the summer months, the organization faces a shortage when they return to school in August.
Community members looking to support the mission can get involved in several key areas:
- Pantry escorts: Volunteers are needed to assist clients with groceries, especially during busy afternoon hours.
- Donation processing: Extra help is needed in the new retail building's receiving area to accept incoming merchandise for the thrift stores.
- Box truck drivers: The center seeks volunteer drivers to operate its two one-ton Isuzu box trucks, which collect furniture donations and retrieve food rescues from local grocers daily.
Residents can also support the food pantry by participating in the 20th annual fundraiser. It will be an African Safari-themed gala on August 8 at Kalahari Resorts. It will feature auctions and a stand-up comedian keynote speaker. Tickets are available through the Serving Center's website.
Click here to learn more about the Round Rock Area Serving Center or to get involved today.
The above story was produced by Senior Multi-Platform Journalist Sydney Heller with Community Impact's Storytelling team with information solely provided by the local business as part of their "sponsored content" purchase through our advertising team.
