The Austin Apartment Association’s annual Doc & Gayle Young Food Drive is a volunteer-driven fundraiser to purchase Thanksgiving foodstuffs for Central Texans in our 11-county jurisdiction. Just one $45 donation gives a family their Thanksgiving food pack this year. 100% of collected funds go toward buying family food packs for needy families and individuals in Austin and surrounding areas. The fundraising begins in earnest in early September and ends in mid-November. Food packs are hand-delivered by volunteers - our Food Drive "Crew" - to the Housing Authority for the City of Austin (HACA), the Texas Department of Protective and Regulatory Services Rainbow Room, SAFE Alliance, and Foundation Communities on the Tuesday before Thanksgiving.
Celebrating our Community
What began in 1986 under volunteer Steve Cartelli with $600 in total donations has grown to an annual fundraising event with more than $900,000 in donations made since the inception of the drive over 34 years ago. Austin residents have received over 23,050 Thanksgiving Food Packs from the Doc & Gayle Young Food Drive since 1986. Food pantries in 10 counties surrounding Travis have received $15,000 in financial donations from the food drive. AAA volunteer member Michael “Doc” Young was at the helm of the committee since 1987 until retiring the role in 2012. The 2021 Food Drive is ably led by Taryn Merrill, Terri Needham, and Paige Russell.
How to Get Involved
Get involved 3 ways!
1- Donate!
Each year, the Austin Apartment Association hosts a series of special FUNdraising events as part of the annual Doc & Gayle Young Food Drive. Come join us at an upcoming event and support the cause!
Click Here for the Food Drive Events Calendar
Donations are also accepted online and via check.
Click Here to Donate to the Doc & Gayle Young Food Drive Fund
2 - Volunteer!
Delivery Day is Tuesday, November 23, 2021. Volunteers will be needed for delivering Thanksgiving Food Packs to various locations. Click here to learn more!
3 - Plan!
Our Food Drive Committee meetings begin in the summer to help plan out the annual campaign and the special events. Join us for one of our upcoming meetings and help us reach our goal!
