At Communities In Schools of North Texas, one of our core beliefs is that every student needs and deserves a healthy start and a healthy future. CISNT supports students and families by meeting their basic needs through Nutrition Hubs, or food pantries, which have been established at all CISNT program sites and are accessible at no cost to any student on campus. CISNT Nutrition Hubs provide access to basic needs items such as food and hygiene items, ensuring students can stay healthy and focus in school! Thanks to the generous support from local businesses, nonprofits, churches, and other partners who help support our Nutrition Hubs, CISNT helps students stay on track for success in school!
Trevor Burns, Site Coordinator at Alexander Elementary, partners with North Texas Food Bank for his Nutrition Hub to provide students with food and snacks during school and on weekends. He says, “The quality of the food that we receive from the food bank is excellent, and vital for many of our students and families who might otherwise go without over weekends and long breaks.” Trevor also works with LovePacs and the Powersnacks program to make sure his students at Alexander Elementary are fueled and ready to learn during the school day! Samantha Guerra Pereyra, the Site Coordinator at Rivera Elementary, also utilizes the critical resources provided by the North Texas Food Bank. Her students are even helping to keep the Nutrition Hub neat and tidy for a great shopping experience! She says, “From kindergarten through 5th grade, our students are learning how to care for their nutritional needs as well as those of others. I often hear them discussing how they plan to use the items or what their parents would appreciate having.” Her Nutrition Hub provides weekend food bags to 75 students each week!
In addition to North Texas Food Bank, Tarrant Area Food Bank has been helping stock our Nutrition Hubs in tremendous ways! At Hodge Elementary, Site Coordinator Yadira Galicia has been hard at work to provide for over 60 families since October. With support from Tarrant Area Food Bank, Site Coordinator Megan Creasy runs a Nutrition Hub at Strickland Middle School every Wednesday night, known locally as “Viking Mart”! Finally, Ryan High School opened a Food Market earlier this year with the help of Tarrant Area Food Bank, which CISNT Site Coordinator, Olumide Aje, will help maintain for years to come.
Thank you to North Texas Food Bank, Tarrant Area Food Bank, Helping Hands for Little Hearts, Weekend Wonderz 4 Kidz, Feeding Wise Kids, and Five Below for their amazing contributions to our Nutrition Hubs! Through the generous support of local businesses, non-profits, churches, and more, CISNT ensures that students are fed and able to focus in the classroom!
