Meals 4-One And All Exceeds Expectations During First Week

Hays County, Texas — The launch of the Meals 4-One and All feed the hungry community initiative has generated more than 1,000 meals for needy families throughout the Hays County area in its first week.

The program kicked off with 14 restaurants in Kyle and San Marcos donating one meal for every four purchased.

“I don’t think any of us expected the reaction we’ve seen,” said Bucky Couch, owner of Cody’s Bistro in San Marcos. “We thought we could generate a lot of meals, but the reaction from our customers has been amazing. They feel as much a part of this program as we do and that makes this all the more rewarding.”

Donated meals, in the form of vouchers, will be distributed between the Hays County Food Bank, Hays CISD Hope2Go program and the San Marcos Youth Council.

These charities, like so many nationwide, are facing increased demands and decreased resources.

“This program could not have come at a better time,” said Hays CISD Board of Trustee President and creator of the Hope2Go program, Esperanza Orosco. “Our needs have never been greater, and this program is providing a lot of meals to those in need. It also gives many families who don’t normally get the opportunity to eat out, the chance enjoy some of our community’s best restaurants.”

“We’re extremely grateful for our local restaurants and the Kyle Chamber of Commerce for creating and implementing the Meals 4-One and All program,” said Greater San Marcos Youth Council (GSMYC) Executive Director, Julia Ramsey New. “Many we serve, through our mission to strengthen families, are experiencing tremendous challenges during the pandemic, which makes them more vulnerable to additional crisis.  Serving Hays County children and their families for over 30 years, GSMYC can do so only because of the generosity of our community members.”

Meals 4-One and All continues to be overseen by the Kyle Chamber of Commerce whose team hopes to expand this program to other communities throughout the I-35 corridor, including Austin and San Antonio.

Currently, chamber staff track donations from each restaurant and provide certificates for donated entrees to charity partners. Charities then distribute these certificates to individuals and families in need throughout the Hays County area.

“This is a simple program that any community can initiate quickly and easily,” said Snyder.  “I would love to see restaurants from Austin to San Antonio get involved in Meals 4 One and All. Look at how many meals we’ve generated in the first week with just 14 restaurants. Imagine what those numbers would like if 1,400 restaurants were involved.”

Currently, the following restaurants are participating in the program: Ilario’s Italian Cuisine, Subway – Kyle, Crave-It Nutrition, Cody’s Restaurant Bar & Patio, Gumby’s Pizza San Marcos, The Texas Pie Company, Milt’s Pit BBQ, Casa Garcia’s Mexican Restaurant & Cantina, Palmer’s Restaurant Bar and Courtyard, Weusi Wellness, Bravo company Barbeque & Catering, Figaro’s Pizza & Pub, San Marcos BBQ, and The Coffee Box. 

For more information or to participate in Meals 4-One and All check-out the Kyle Chamber of Commerce Meals 4-One and All page.