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Central Texas partnership creates one-stop-shop for food and job resources

The partnership will give people access to job resources when they visit the local food bank.

AUSTIN, Texas —

The Central Texas Food Bank is teaming up with Workforce Solutions Capital Area to offer people job resources when they come in for food. 

There are Workforce Solutions career counselors stationed right inside the Benefits and Emergency Services offices at the food bank. Anytime anyone visits to get food, they can also be connected to in-demand jobs or career training and development opportunities. 

Central Texas Food Bank President and CEO Sari Vatske said hunger is usually a symptom of a larger issue, so the food bank wants to be able to address as much as it can all in one spot. 

"Needs don't exist in isolation. And while we aim to provide support for families, if we can prevent people from having to rely on our services ... that's a win-win, not only for both organizations but for the families we're serving as well," Vatske said.

The goal is to make access to resources easier. The groups want this to be a one-stop-shop so people don't have to go to multiple places to get what they need. 

Workforce Solutions Capital Area CEO Tamara Atkinson said after looking at data, the group noticed its clients often need support, like food assistance, so this partnership makes sense.

"Well, not unlike children in school who have a hard time learning if they're, if they're hungry, we know that people, when they are looking for a job or trying to go to school to improve their skills, it's hard for them to concentrate if they're hungry," Atkinson said. 

Workforce Solutions also plans on creating more community-based partnerships at places like libraries, schools and anywhere else its clients would like to see its resources.

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