Free Lunch ATX is a collective of Austin creatives who reduce food insecurity by cooking and serving food and engaging in food access advocacy by publishing a quarterly magazine. Our main focus is on the health of those who are experiencing homelessness in our community. If we want to successfully support them, we have to provide them with nutrients. It’s not just about eating; they need nourishment.
One of the ways that we offer support outside Camp Esperanza is weekly meal contributions to ATX Free Fridge. There are multiple Free Fridges around Austin that are open to and stocked by the public 24/7. This is an easy way for anyone to get involved. If you would like to bring prepared meals, make sure they are labeled and dated. Dried goods and groceries are encouraged as well. These fridges are maintained by the community so please consider giving the fridges a wipe-down and preparing them for the next person who drops by. Multiple examples of proper packaging and easy-to-make recipes can be found on our Instagram.
Cultivating relationships with local chefs and farms has enabled us to deliver meals with the highest quality of ingredients while also ensuring that their surplus product does not go to waste. Currently, we are working with Wild Heart Dirt in the build-out of a Free Lunch garden. This is a space for us to host our volunteer program, networking events, and other ways to get to know our community better.
Expansion to us is more meals going to those in need whether that comes from Free Lunch or other organizations. That is why we are happy to be partnered with Our Shared Kitchen and Walking By Faith Prison Ministry, two organizations that go above and beyond to provide nuanced meal support. Not only do they bring food to Camp Esperanza on the weekends, they also go out of their way to serve encampments around town that are harder to find.
Become a Lunch Monitor by subscribing to our magazine.
Lunch Monitors are the most important part of our meal support program! The relationship between your ongoing support and the efficacy of our program is symbiotic, the more support we get the better care we can give. A magazine subscription of $10 a month allows us to continue to make healthy meals 7 days a week. Every quarter, you will receive a new issue updating you on past progress and future goals. Providing you with the content holds us accountable for our work and is evidence of your money in motion.
