Part of PharmaSUG is giving something back to the community in which our conference is being held. In recent years, we have joined with the graduate program at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in their efforts to cure cancer, the Philadelphia Ronald McDonald House in their goal to support families of seriously ill children, and Feeding America to help those struggling with food insecurities in the United States.
With the pandemic, unemployment and food insecurity skyrocketed. This year, PharmaSUG decided to partner with the Central Texas Food Bank to help in the fight against hunger in the Austin area. We've set a goal of raising $2500 this year- that's the equivalent of 10,000 meals.
Central Texas Food Bank
At the Central Texas Food Bank, we believe all Central Texans should have access to the nutritious food necessary to achieve their full potential. As the largest hunger-relief charity in Central Texas, our programs and community partnerships with businesses, agencies and other nonprofits make it possible to improve the nutrition of the 65,000 Central Texans we serve each week who are at risk of hunger.
Hunger Facts
Thanks to a thriving business sector and unparalleled economic development, Central Texas is among the fastest growing regions in the nation. But amid this growth and prosperity, many of our neighbors are being left behind.
The rising cost of housing, utilities, transportation and healthcare leaves many of our neighbors to make impossible choices and painful sacrifices. Two-thirds of the people we serve say they had to choose between buying food and paying for housing in the past year. Eighty percent say they had to choose between food and medicine.
Hunger affects people from all walks of life. Working families, retired seniors on fixed incomes, grandparents with custody of grandchildren, the chronically ill and the disabled all turn to the Food Bank for help in emergencies or as part of their regular meal planning. As we work together to ensure all these people get the nutritious food they need, we’re counting on you to help educate the community and dispel myths about hunger around us. Please share your knowledge with others.
How does the Central Texas Food Bank Help?
Our 4,200-square foot Community Kitchen gives us the ability to offer scratch on-site meal preparation for multiple programs, culinary job training, and volunteer opportunities for individuals and organizations. The Food Bank garden pairs food production for hunger relief with educational programming. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, classes transitioned from in-person to a virtual format. Fresh Food For Families provides free monthly distributions of fruits, vegetables and other fresh foods to low-income families. These distributions supplement existing grocery budgets with much-needed nutritious foods. We also offer Kids Cafe, and the Healthy Options program for the elderly, among other community services.
How Can YOU Help?
Every $1 donated = 4 meals. Your donation goes directly where it's needed most and helps us serve Central Texans at risk of hunger. We have been awarded Charity Navigator's highest rating and ninety-six percent of your gift goes directly to support our programs. In addition, if you make a cash donation during the conference, you'll receive 1 PharmaBuck for every dollar donated.