During the initial months of the coronavirus pandemic, Easy Tiger baked and delivered 10,000 fresh loaves of bread to the Central Texas Food Bank, Keep Austin Fed, Drive A Senior and Mobile Loaves & Fishes in Austin, Texas. All four organizations experienced a dramatic increase in need due to coronavirus and related employment and school shut-downs.

The bakery’s ambitious plan helped feed Austin residents in need in the spring. The bakery covered all labor and fixed costs to bake and deliver each loaf, and asked for community support to help pay for flour and other essential ingredients to make the bread.

This Labor Day, Easy Tiger is announcing the expansion of its Community Bread Challenge to 100,000 loaves, based on Austin's overwhelming support and success of the initial program. The bakery is asking the community for its continued support to reach its goal of 100,000 loaves of Community Bread by Labor Day 2021.

“Bread is an essential food that brings people together,” says Easy Tiger chief executive officer Mike Stitt. “Our team of essential workers has been working throughout the summer to Feed Austin. We know the path to 100,000 will be a challenge, but this year taught us that together we can accomplish anything. We’ve got your back, Austin.”

To date, a total of 20,511 Community Loaves have been baked and delivered to Texans in need, through partnerships with Central Texas Food Bank, Meals on Wheels, Keep Austin Fed, Drive a Senior and Mobile Loaves & Fishes.

“The pandemic continues to create unprecedented demand for our services and we don't see that changing any time soon,” says Derrick Chubbs, president and chief executive officer of the Central Texas Food Bank. “Programs like the Community Bread Challenge help provide essential food for hungry families, but they also inspire others to do the same. Easy Tiger has been an essential partner for us in weathering this pandemic. Their support shows the amazing power of a community coming together to help those in need.”

Customers can get involved by visiting Easy Tiger’s website for outdoor dining, local/national delivery or curbside pickup. They can choose “Community Bread” ($3) from the bread menu, adding as many as they like, and Easy Tiger will match each bread purchase with Community Bread, up to 20,000 loaves.