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The University of Texas track athlete Kaylin Rendon gives back to support food security for local families

By the time Rendon was a teenager, she decided to pay it forward. In high school, she became involved in Peer Assistance Leadership & Service (PALS), a mentorship program promoting positive environments in schools. At The University of Texas, she’s a regular at Austin SERVE, a nonprofit which supports local communities.

In March, the Longhorns named Rendon as a Community Hero for her outreach work across the community. Months later, the Southeastern Conference (SEC) selected her to its Community Service Team.

When the Longhorns’ athletic department gave Rendon a chance to call-out a local cause of her own, she wrote that she is, “committed to advancing food access equity and helping create healthier, more stable communities.”

Volunteering for a good cause

In July, Rendon traveled to the Central Health Southeast Health & Wellness Center to volunteer during its Summer Lunch Program and learn how food access programs bolster communities in a time of need.

First launched in 2015 in partnership with the Central Texas Food Bank, Summer Lunch has since provided thousands of free, nutritious lunches to children, adults and their families while promoting healthy lifestyles in underserved communities. In 2025, in collaboration with Central Texas Food Bank and Sendero Health Plans, the program served 6,800 lunches, helping people where and when they need it. This year, the program exceeded that number by 40-percent, serving a total of 9,523 meals—including a total of 4,250 children.

“That growth is a powerful reflection of our commitment to Food is Medicine as it addresses the needs of the communities we serve,” said Leonor Dominguez, Central Health’s program manager of community health and wellness initiatives.

“Being able to give back and put your time toward it,” Rendon said, “I’ve always enjoyed that aspect. Getting to interact with people and see that people are doing things to help people fight food insecurity.”

We sat down with Rendon to explore her interest in health care and asked what continues to inspire her off the track.

Q: Can you tell me a little bit about your background in Fort Worth, and how public health resources were once important to your family growing up?

A: My mom relied on WIC and SNAP and I have a few memories of going to food pantries to get that little extra help. We also depended on school meal programs, which helped take some of the burden off of my mom. At the time, I didn’t think much about it, but looking back I realize how much those resources truly did for us at the time. Growing up utilizing these resources provided a little more stability for my family at the time and gave me deep appreciation for the impact public health programs can have.

Q: Did that experience prompt your interest to get involved in public service as a teenager?

A: Yes, I think it definitely planted that seed. Growing up and experiencing firsthand how much impact community resources can have on families gave me a greater appreciation for people and programs that work to support their communities.

As a teenager, I looked for opportunities to serve and give back to my community. Over time, I became especially interested in issues like food insecurity.

Q: Why is public service important to you?

A: Public service is important to me because I’ve experienced how much of a difference it can make in a person’s life. I believe that everyone deserves to have the chance to live a healthy and fulfilling life, regardless of their circumstances.

To me, public service is about using the skills and opportunities I have been given to make a positive impact on others.

Q: What have you learned by volunteering and providing support during outreach events through Austin SERVE?

A: Volunteering through SERVE has shown me the difference a community can make when people come together to serve others. One of the biggest things I’ve learned is that there are so many people who genuinely want to help and are willing to invest their time to make an impact. It’s as simple as giving a few hours of your day to make a huge difference in a community.

I have also gained a deeper appreciation for how many individuals and families rely on these different resources and how much of an impact they have on their lives. So many people are grateful for these resources, and it has reminded me that even small acts of service can make a lasting difference in someone’s life.

Q: As you’ve found studying food deserts, sometimes where you live has direct ties to your long-term health. In parts of Eastern Travis County, where access to nutritious food is limited, some residents must travel an upwards of 30 minutes to the nearest grocery store.

A: Food access programs like Central Health’s Summer Lunch Program are important to communities because they are working to provide healthy meals to people in their communities one plate at a time. They make access simple by bringing healthy, nutritious food directly to individuals and families and ensuring that cost is not a barrier for anyone who needs support.

Programs like these truly represent what public health and public service are about, meeting people where they are and creating resources that help build healthier communities.

Q: You volunteered with Central Health’s Summer Lunch program recently. How did it go? What did you enjoy about the experience?

A: Volunteering was such an amazing experience. It was meaningful to be able to give back directly to the community and make small connections throughout the day.

One of my favorite parts of the experience was seeing so many people come together to make the event happen and watching community resources being put into action. I also appreciated seeing the individuals and families who relied on this resource come in and receive support. It showed me the importance of programs like these and how much of an impact they can have when a community works together to support one another.

Q: Something as simple as a lunch can go a long way for a community. In your eyes, what kind of peace of mind might a free lunch offer to someone in need?

A: I think a free lunch can bring a sense of hope and relief to someone in need. It provides access to a nutritious meal and helps ensure that a basic health need is being met without adding an additional financial burden.

For families experiencing food insecurity, knowing that their children or loved ones have access to a consistent meal can provide peace of mind and allow them to focus on other important needs. Beyond the meal itself, programs like these remind people that their community supports them and that they are not facing these challenges alone.

Thank you so much for your time volunteering with our food access program, your insights here, and for all you do out in the community and for the university. Oh yeah, and best of luck on the cross-country course and track next year!