FOOD ASsistance

Food For Today

Food Assistance & Distribution

At the New Braunfels Food Bank, we’re deeply committed to nourishing our neighbors across Comal and Guadalupe counties. Through a trusted network of partner agencies, we distribute wholesome, nutritious food to individuals and families facing hunger. Our Client Choice Pantry empowers families to select the foods that fit their needs, while our convenient drive-through model ensures safe, efficient service. Working hand-in-hand with local pantries, shelters, and community groups, we provide both perishable and non-perishable items with care and compassion. Together, we’re building a stronger, healthier community—one meal at a time.

Schedule An Appointment

The easiest way to schedule an appointment is to visit us in person.

1620 S. Seguin Ave, New Braunfels, TX 78130

You may also email us at schedule@nbfoodbank.org or call (830) 327-6000. If calling, please be sure to leave a voicemail with your full name, date of birth, and details about the appointment you are trying to schedule.

Client-Choice Pantry

The Client Choice Pantry at the New Braunfels Food Bank offers a dignified, grocery store-style shopping experience for individuals and families in need of food assistance. Instead of receiving a pre-packed box, you get to pick out your own groceries—choosing the items that best suit your household’s needs. Each household may access the pantry once every 4 weeks, and appointments are required. We’re happy to help schedule your visit, but please note that appointments can only be made at least 30 days apart.

During your visit, you’ll be able to select up to 100 pounds of shelf-stable food, plus an unlimited amount of fresh produce. Shopping bags and boxes will be provided, but we encourage clients to bring back their New Braunfels Food Bank reusable bags for future appointments—it helps us serve everyone more efficiently.

For everyone’s safety and comfort, only service animals are allowed in the pantry.

 

 

Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
9 AM – 11 AM 9 AM – 11 AM 9 AM – 11 AM 9 AM – 11 AM 9 AM – 11 AM Reserved for New Families
1:30 PM – 3:30 PM 1:30 PM – 3:30 PM 1:30 PM – 3:30 PM CLOSED Reserved for New Families 1:30 PM – 3:30 PM

Drive Thru Food Distribution

The Drive-Through is a convenient and contactless way for individuals and families to receive supplemental food. Volunteers will load your vehicle with a premade box of pantry staples, fresh produce bags, and other available items.

Each household may access the Drive-Through once per month during weeks they have not scheduled a Client Choice pantry appointment. Please note: a maximum of 3 households per vehicle is allowed, and each household must have its own appointment to participate.

Hours of Operation

2nd & 4th Saturdays of each month.
Regular Hours: 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM
Summer Hours: 8:00 AM – 10:00 AM

This service may be rescheduled or canceled in the event of severe weather to ensure the safety of staff, volunteers, and the families we serve.

During your appointment, here are some of the things you will have to remember:

  1. You may check in with the front desk at least 15 minutes before your reservation.
  2. Only one person per family is allowed to shop in the pantry. If you need special assistance, please notify a staff member so a food bank volunteer will be assigned to assist you during your shopping. We ask parents with smaller children not to bring the stroller inside our pantry during the shopping appointment. We can accommodate small children during the shopping appointment if they fit in the grocery cart.
  3. As a courtesy to other individuals and families please refrain from making phone calls during your shopping.
  4. Please limit your shopping time to 20 minutes.
  5. Only trained and leashed service animals are allowed. Service dogs must always be under their handler’s control, and handlers must be prepared to clean up any messes that occur. For the health and safety of our employees, clients, volunteers, and visitors we do not allow pets or emotional support animals in our facility. We are bound by food regulations and therefore we prohibit pets from being in areas where food is being prepared or sold.
  6. Shopping bags and an empty box will be supplied during the shopping appointment that will be used to store selected food items. You are welcome to reuse the green NBFB tote bags every visit.
  7. During your shopping appointment, please follow the shopping direction which flows in a singular direction.
  8. Health and wellness remain to be our priority for each household, so we make fresh fruits and vegetables available with no limit. Each household could pick up fresh fruits and vegetables as much as their family needs.
  9. All products outside of fresh fruits and vegetables are subject to a limit of 100 pounds.
  10. Each household may also access pet food and household items during the client choice shopping when products are available. This is a first come first served basis and product limits usually applies.
  11. A volunteer will assist in weighing the items upon checkout.
  12. Please ensure to return the carts after loading your vehicle so we can continue to serve other families in need.

“I am both a recipient and a volunteer here, and I’ve seen firsthand how the New Braunfels Food Bank changes lives.”

Marina
Neighbor | New Braunfels Food Bank

Monthly Pop-Up Distribution at Tree Of Life

Every third Thursday of the month, Tree of Life Church partners with the New Braunfels Food Bank to host a pop-up drive-through food distribution. This special event is open to individuals and families in need of food assistance and provides a convenient way to receive supplemental groceries—no need to leave your vehicle. Best of all, this distribution does not count against your regular pantry or drive-through appointments at the New Braunfels Food Bank, so you can still access your monthly services as needed.

To participate, registration is required in advance. Please call the Family Life Center at (830) 625-7100 to reserve your spot and receive further instructions. Spaces may be limited, so early registration is encouraged.

We’re grateful to Tree of Life Church for their continued partnership in serving our community with compassion and care.

Additional Resources

Visit FreshTrak.com to view and sign-up for other organized food distributions near you.

Frequently Asked Questions

For first time families and individuals, an in person application is required during pantry hours. First time families and individuals will receive an emergency food box until an appointment can be made for the subsequent visit. Please allow 2-5 business days to schedule a shopping appointment.

No documentation is needed for food assistance.

  • Families and individuals can only receive services according to the length of their eligibility when they first registered. A recertification is required after this eligibility period has lapsed either annually or after 6 months.
  • For families that are receiving Federal Benefits and/or fall under the 185% of the Federal Poverty Guideline, an annual recertification is required. Exactly 12 months after eligibility is determined.
  • For families that are experiencing a temporary crisis, recertification after 6 months is required.

  • Only during the first visit will you be required to come in person to fill out and sign the intake form.
  • Once your eligibility is determined, you may assign a proxy. A proxy is a person you entrust to pick up your food assistance on your behalf.
  • A proxy could assign for a one-time pick up, or until your eligibility expires.
  • Upon recertification, you may assign the same person to be your proxy or enroll a different one.
  • For client choice shopping, if your proxy happens to also shop for their own, a separate appointment needs to be made an hour apart from your appointment. Only one cart per person during the client choice shopping.

  • Appointments are required for all services at the New Braunfels Food Bank. 
  • Same day appointment might not be possible due to a high demand for this service.
  • Please call our main number at 830-327-6000 to schedule an appointment. Families/Individuals are encouraged to set their appointment a month in advance.
  • Please leave a voicemail if your call is not answered. We are also experiencing a high volume of calls; however, we return and call back all those who leaves us a voicemail.

Families and individuals can visit our Client Choice Pantry once every 30 days. An appointment is required for this service. Please do not schedule an appointment for the same week you have an appointment for the Drive Thru service.

Each shopper will be given a box and a couple of bags that could be used during the shopping experience. Clients are welcome, and encouraged, to bring their own reusable grocery bags. For Drive Thru service, no extra containers or storage is necessary. All items are prepared in a pre-assembled cart containing boxed food items and pre-bagged produce.

  • Each household can receive as much as 100 pounds of food.
  • Additionally, fresh produce can be accessed as much as the family or individual could use.
  • Each shopping experience is limited to 20 minutes.
  • The pantry shelves are set-up to accommodate a singular direction during the shopping experience that still allows the individual to access each item available on our shelves.
  • Please be mindful of others as you shop since space is limited in our pantry.
  • Phone calls while shopping are discouraged.
  • No eating or drinking in the pantry while shopping.
  • Only service animals are allowed.
  • Once shopping experience is completed, NBFB staff and volunteers will weigh each cart to ensure that the allowed 100 pounds of food per family is observed.

Only one person per family is allowed in the pantry. Our volunteers are available to help you during your shopping appointment if you are in need of assistance. If you came with a companion, they may wait for you in the lobby while you complete your shopping experience.

Our pantry offers a various selection of shelf-stable food and perishable items like:

  • Canned protein
  • Canned Vegetables
  • Canned Fruits
  • Fresh Produce
  • Frozen Meats
  • Dairy
  • Bread
  • Non -edible section
  • Seasonal products
  • Pet food

NOTE: We are a donation-based organization. Products may be available at a limited quantity and may not have all items available every time. Some items may be past the best-by or expiration dates which guarantees maximum freshness by the retailer. These products are not expired, please refer to the literature on Food Storage and Expiration Dates.

Learn more about expiration dates here.

For questions or more information, please contact:

Nate Raschke
Program Manager
830.327.6003
nraschke@nbfoodbank.org