Texas ice storm: Hundreds of cars lined up for Central Texas food bank giveaway

Austin, Texas – A winter storm this week left hundreds of thousands of Austin residents in the dark for several days due to dangerously low temperatures.

“We’re staying in Kyle and it’s a little hard without electricity in our house,” says Austin resident Joe Cruz.

Hundreds of vehicles lined up Saturday morning as the Texas Central Food Bank handed out more than 500 parcels.

Travis County Judge Andy Brown says food distribution is the first step in the recovery process. “You don’t need electricity to cook food, so these are all foods that you can cook without having to cook them in any way,” he said.

As of Saturday afternoon, thousands of people are still without power, according to Judge Brown.

“It’s just awful that people have to stay in their homes for so long without electricity, so we’re doing everything we can to make sure people have food while Austin Energy works to get the power back on,” Judge Brown said.

READ MORE: Ice storm in Texas: Austin Energy still working on power recovery

Cruz says this week has been a tough one for his family trying to keep everyone safe. “We use a generator to keep the house warm and we have some ice in our fridge for food,” he said.

After hearing about the food distribution event, many local volunteers asked how they could help.

“I grew up here, have lived here all my life, so when these calls are made, whether it be the Coalition of Hispanics or other activist groups, to support our community, we are going to show up,” Acting ISD Superintendent Austin Matias Segura says.

READ MORE: Ice storm in Texas: 7 ISD campuses in Austin remain without power on Saturday

Segura even shared plans to reopen campuses next week.

“Operatively, we make sure our schools and buildings are welcoming and safe and free of debris, which is one of the challenges we face in operating the transportation system,” says Segura.