To support communities in their efforts to grow, sell, and eat healthy food, the City of Austin’s Office of Sustainability has awarded $3,000 grants to 25 organizations working to build food justice in Austin. First launched in 2020, the Food Justice Mini Grants program funds projects and programs that help build transformational change around how food moves from the fields to our forks.
“To create lasting change, we must empower those working toward food justice,” said Zach Baumer, the City of Austin’s Interim Chief Sustainability Officer. “Through these grants, we are hoping to foster a stronger, more equitable food landscape across our community.”
One of the funded organizations, ATX Free Fridge, manages community-supported refrigerators available 24/7 where neighbors can donate or take food. Grant funds will support their “Shop for the Fridge” initiative, where core organizers shop weekly to stock the most often used fridges with essentials, including fresh fruit and protein-rich foods.
“The goal is to create consistency for folks receiving food from the fridges,” said Stephanie, ATX Free Fridge core organizer. “This benefits everyone but will especially help our unhoused neighbors better utilize them as they plan their movements for the day and week.”
Another funded organization, More Than Welcome, serves refugee and asylum-seeking neighbors in Austin through a peer-led support network of staff and volunteers dedicated to helping individuals and families get support for settling into their lives in a new community. This organization will use grant funds to purchase grocery gift cards and ensure recipients can use them by providing rides, translation support, and help navigating the store.
“We want to transition refugees and asylum seekers from surviving to thriving in Austin,” said Kevin Reichle, More Than Welcome team member. “We want to walk them through that journey with friendship along the way.”
In the Summer of 2024, organizations will report back on the full impact of their projects. The complete list of grant recipients includes:
For more information about the grant, visit austintexas.gov/fjmg. | 
