Management at The Salt Lick are working to feed volunteers, displaced residents, and aid workers in the Bastrop area. The restaurant sent 1,000 meals to Bastrop yesterday to assist with wildfire relief, and will send an additional 1,000 meals today. They've issued a call for help, though - when delivering the meals, they were told that Gatorade and water were badly needed to help with hydration. If you'd like to contribute a beverage to go with these meals, The Salt Lick is accepting Gatorade and water donations at either of their restaurants or at a Central Austin residential drop-off at 1604 Nickerson St. For more information, call 512-858-4959. more ›

This morning, Les Dames d'Escoffier posted their 2nd annual Food Fight auction online. The organization provides scholarships for women pursuing careers in the culinary arts, so winners can feel good about donating for the prizes. And what prizes there are! Some our favorites: more ›

For the second straight year, a group of local technology folks are working to provide Central Texas children with free computers. more ›

Our favorite downtown, non-profit, Texas-focused, contemporary art center, Arthouse, has been closed since October while they undergo expansions and reservations at their Jones Center location. The gallery is expected to open again in October of this year, but instead of bowing out of Austin's art scene for the duration of construction, the dedicated folks at Arthouse have been busy bringing in speakers (Gary Carrion-Murayari, the co-curator of the 2010 Whitney Biennial, will be in town in April), hosting workshops and teen programs, and even co-producing a series for the much anticipated upcoming Fusebox Festival. For the month of February, Arthouse has launched a micro-giving campaign, I Heart Arthouse, with the goal of receiving 2,000 $5 gifts. The combined effort would raise $10,000 dollars for the museum's exhibitions and educational programing and prove that everyone can be a philanthropist and patron of the arts. All donations can be made online. more ›

Sugar Mama's, our favorite little cup-o-cake purveyor on South 1st is offering a free baked good today to anyone who drops by the shop between noon and 8pm with two (or more!) non-perishable food items in tow. All of the donations collected will go straight to the Capital Area Food Bank, which is continually working to end hunger in Central Texas. more ›

The Capital Area Food Bank just put out an urgent call for emergency donations, saying that their donations are depleted, and that as of 2pm, no more emergency boxes could be filled onsite. They are using funds donated to buy more food, but if you are able to drop any food items off at the Food Bank, they are in desperate need of: peanut butter, canned meat (with pop-top lids), bottled water, and personal care items (shampoo, fem. hygiene, toothpaste, etc). Also desired: granola bars, diapers and wipes. The Food Bank, located at 8201 S. Congress Ave., will be accepting these donations through Friday. [Capital Area Food Bank of Texas Weblog] more ›