A new program will soon help Austin's needy get everyday necessities we sometimes take for granted.
Mobile Loaves and Fishes will pass out vouchers good for nontaxable, non-tobacco and non-alcohol items at participating retailers.
With a catering truck MLF spends seven days a week giving all it can to the hungry. They venture out into the streets to offer the poor a warm meal, with a little dignity on the side.
"The catering trucks go out on the streets of Austin and soon to be San Antonio every single night of the week each equipped with 75 meals to serve the homeless and the working poor," said Alan Graham, the founder and president of MLF.
But this week, the group is offering an alternative way to help.
Mobile Loaves and Fishes Shares is a new voucher program.
On Wednesday the group will mail out $5,000 worth of vouchers to about a thousand different charitable groups and eventually, to those they serve.
"The greatest gift in the world is the ability to be able to give," Graham said.
The vouchers are essentially an alternative to cash. They're good for things like food, clothing and medicine not alcohol or tobacco.
"The biggest fear of people letting go of their cash is probably that their cash may be used for alcohol, drugs or tobacco products. What people want to do is provide food and other essential human needs," Graham said.
The vouchers can be redeemed at 50 different stores representing seven different businesses such as Walgreens, Goodwill even the Hickory Street Bar and Grill.
"We're right in the middle of downtown, so we see a lot of homeless people and we feed a lot of homeless people with or without the voucher program," said Fred Nelson, owner of the grill.
Nelson was one of the first retailers to get on board.
"I think his program is a good way to provide them something worthwhile, that they don't have to be out on the street begging for it," Nelson said.
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In need of vouchers
The vouchers are redeemable for food and medicine.
 
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The vouchers should start circulating in the streets sometime next week.
"We need more participating merchants, particularly grocery stores
We need people and organizations likes religious organizations and the nonprofits that are interested in distributing the vouchers
We need [people] willing to purchase these vouchers and distribute them to the people that have a need," said Alan Graham, of MLF.
For more information contact Mobile Loaves and Fishes at (512) 328-7299.
