How We Help
"The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others." — Mahatma Gandhi. VISTO offers four interconnected programs that address food, financial, educational, and referral needs.
Touching Lives Across Cooke County
Through food, financial assistance, education, and information & referral services, VISTO touches the lives of over 24,700 people each year.
Food Pantry
Cooke County's largest food pantry with a client-choice model. Partner of the Tarrant Area Food Bank since 2015, distributing over 431,000 lbs of food in 2025 alone.
Pathways
Helping single parents and young families build self-reliance through life skills classes, personal coaches, and community partnerships across 8 key life areas.
Backpack Buddies
Weekend meal packs for food-insecure children in 15 Cooke County schools — ensuring 1,174 kids have food every weekend, every school year.
Education & Referral
Our "triage" model provides short-term assistance while connecting clients with longer-term support. We're a bridge to stability, with 80% of clients using services 6 times or less.
The Difference We Made Together
Need Help? We're Here.
Visit us at 1305 N. Culberson, Gainesville, TX — Monday through Friday, 8am to noon. No appointment necessary for many services.