Today we’d like to introduce you to Tina Lee.
Hi Tina, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
My journey into this work began in 2009 when I started volunteering at a local food pantry. What began as a simple desire to help quickly became something much deeper. Over time, I stepped into greater responsibility and was eventually entrusted to serve as their Executive Director, an experience that shaped my leadership, strengthened my resilience, and deepened my heart for this work.
I served there for several years, learning everything I could about food distribution, community care, and meeting people where they are. In 2016, I felt led to step out in faith and start something of my own; something that would remove barriers and serve people with dignity, compassion, and consistency.
In 2017, Circle of Hope Community Center was born.
What started as a small, grassroots effort has grown into a thriving community hub serving thousands of families each month. Today, we provide not only food, but also resources and support to help families navigate difficult seasons.
Looking back, every step, even the uncertain ones was preparing me for this. Circle of Hope is more than a food pantry; it’s a place where people are seen, supported, and reminded they’re not alone.
Serving Hope. Sharing Food. Strengthening Lives™
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Not at all! It’s been anything but a smooth road.
What started as a step of faith has required perseverance, resilience, and a willingness to keep going even when things felt uncertain. In the early days, we faced the typical challenges of a startup nonprofit, limited resources, long hours, and learning everything as we went. But as we’ve grown, the challenges have grown too.
We’ve experienced seasons where demand for food and services increased dramatically while donations decreased. We’ve had to navigate facility limitations, logistical hurdles, and the complexity of serving thousands of families each month with a small team and an incredible but stretched group of volunteers.
On a personal level, there have been moments of exhaustion and even health challenges that forced me to slow down when I didn’t feel like I could. Leading while carrying both the weight of the mission and the needs of the community isn’t always easy.
But through every challenge, we’ve seen provision, community support, and lives changed. Those moments remind us why we do this work.
The road hasn’t been smooth, but it has been deeply meaningful.
We’ve been impressed with Circle Of Hope Community Center , but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Circle of Hope Community Center exists to meet people where they are by providing food, resources, and hope to families in need. What began as a step of faith has grown into a high-impact, community-driven organization serving over 11,000 families each month across Pflugerville, Austin, and surrounding areas.
We specialize in large scale, barrier free food distribution through our drive-through model, ensuring families can access nutritious food with dignity and ease. In addition to food, we offer limited support services such as occasional financial assistance, transportation help, and access to essential household items based on available resources and specific needs. While we are not able to meet every financial request, we do our best to come alongside families in meaningful and practical ways whenever possible.
What truly sets Circle of Hope apart is our commitment to accessibility and relationships. We do not require zip codes or unnecessary documentation; if someone needs help, we serve them. At the same time, we’ve built strong partnerships with food banks, retailers, donors, and volunteers that allow us to operate efficiently and at scale while maintaining a personal, compassionate approach.
Brand-wise, I’m most proud that Circle of Hope has become known as a place where people feel seen, valued, and supported; not just served. Our tagline, “Serving Hope. Sharing Food. Strengthening Lives™,” reflects everything we stand for.
At the end of the day, we’re more than a food pantry, we’re a community. And everything we do is rooted in the belief that when you meet people with both practical support and genuine care, it creates lasting impact.
Any big plans?
As we look to the future, our focus is on growing sustainably while deepening our impact in the community.
We are actively working toward expanding our facility and improving our infrastructure so we can increase our capacity, improve efficiency, and better serve the thousands of families who rely on us each month. This includes enhancements to our warehouse space, climate-controlled storage, and overall site functionality.
One area we’re especially looking forward to revisiting is our pop-up pantry model. While we’ve had success bringing food directly into underserved areas—like Title I schools—we’ve had to pause those efforts this year due to limited staff and volunteer capacity. As we strengthen our team and volunteer base, we’re hopeful to relaunch and expand that outreach in the future.
In addition, we are focused on securing funding for key staff positions, which will allow us to better support our volunteers, streamline operations, and continue to grow responsibly.
From the very beginning, I’ve also had a vision for Circle of Hope to become a true community hub—a place where families can access not just food, but opportunities for growth and stability. My hope is that one day we will have the space to partner with other nonprofits and professionals who can offer services like job training, computer and life skills classes, parenting support, cooking classes, and financial literacy all in one place.
Looking ahead, expanding our Learning Center is a big part of that vision, creating pathways that help families move beyond immediate need toward long-term stability.
None of this would be possible without the continued support of our community, and as we grow, we welcome partners, donors, and volunteers who want to be part of creating lasting impact.
Ultimately, everything we’re building is centered around creating a stronger, more connected community. We want to continue being a place where people not only receive help, but find hope, support, and a path forward.
Pricing:
- Circle of Hope Community Center provides food assistance to families at no cost.
- Our drive-through pantry distributions are designed to remove barriers and make help accessible to all.
- Additional support, such as limited financial assistance and transportation help, is provided on a case-by-case basis as resources allow.
- Every service we offer is made possible through the generosity of donors, volunteers, and community partners who help us continue Serving Hope. Sharing Food. Strengthening Lives™.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.circleofhopecc.org/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/circleofhopecc/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/circleofhopecc/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/circle-of-hope-community-center/
- Other: https://www.circleofhopecc.org/donate
Image Credits
Tina Lee
Derek Lee
Jesse Petaia
