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Every week, a small caravan of cyclists with cargo racks, baskets, and side-saddles packed with hot food, cold water, menstrual kits, dog food, flea collars, and even Narcan have rolled through East Austin and Downtown giving meals to any houseless, hungry, and hard-up individuals whose paths they cross. The food distribution effort, headed up by Austin residents Kelly Wourms and Claire Harbutt, is so DIY that it really falls in the category of neighbors helping neighbors. While it exists outside the many established services in Austin for people experiencing homelessness, it complements them by serving individuals who may not be utilizing food banks or those who stay in areas difficult to access by car.

Austin Bicycle Meals’ distribution rides start every Saturday, 4:30pm and every other Wednesday at 5:30pm, in the small park at 209 East Monroe, Austin TX 78704.

"I'm always trying to tell people how easy this is. Everything is ready when you get there – you just have to put it on your bike and go. All you need is barely any skill on a bike, compassion, and the desire to help others." - Austin Bicycle Meals co-founder Kelly Wourms


Mission and Vision

What is the mission statement of Austin Bicycle Meals? 

• Austin Bicycle Meals aims to support our unhoused neighbors with food and vital resources by distributing those resources to less accessible areas and neighbors. 
• Mobilizing an already passionate group of people to do something positive for their community. Humanizing the experience of giving these resources by breaking down the us and them barrier. 

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What long-term vision does the organization aim to achieve?

• 2022 was 2000 meals, we’re on track to distribute well over 3000 meals in 2023, and we’re setting a goal of 5000 meals distributed in 2024. 
• Provide an accessible experience that helps break the barrier between the housed and unhoused.
• Encouraging more cyclists to use their passion to have a positive impact on the community. 
• Finding a central location for storage of bicycle meals resources. Store bicycle helmets there. 

How do the activities align with the core values of the organization?

• We’re getting cyclists and volunteers alike to engage with a population that all of them have seen and experienced first hand but have been conditioned to ignore. On a bike you can smell, feel, and hear the city in a way that you simply can’t if you’re in a car. Traveling by bicycle, the barrier is removed, allowing one to easily engage with and support the unhoused. 
• Additionally, cycling is a sport that can be very solitary or very social, but usually amongst other cyclists. ABM brings cyclists and volunteer minded folks together alike and unites them to help serve the unhoused, breaking the cycle (excuse the pun) of cyclists hanging out with and riding with nobody but cyclists. 

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Community and Impact

Who are the unhoused population segments you are targeting in Austin?

• Mostly East Austin and Downtown. In the past we had been to Roy Guerrero and communities along Ladybird Lake. 

How many meals were delivered in 2023?

• At least 3000.

How many meals do you plan to deliver in 2024?

• Keeping up a similar pace would be great. Distributing in different areas of the city would be something I’d love to get back into. 

What are the anticipated outcomes and impacts of your meal deliveries on the local unhoused community?

• Seeing people depend on us for popsicles/ice water this summer really seemed like a breakthrough in that we were hitting the same routes over and over again, folks had come to depend on us in a way that I hadn’t seen before. Creating a reliable point of contact for the unhoused community. This can provide access to these neighbors for other resources and organizations.