PORTLAND, Texas — The start of the new school year still being met with a lot of excitement and high hopes, but if students are having to worry about things such as where their next meal will come from, they may not be too focused on learning or an exam.
However, thanks to a new initiative now across all campuses within the Gregory-Portland ISD, district leaders are working to ensure that those students can focus on being a kid, and on their studies.
In this On Your mind, 3NEWS looks into the creation of what are now the "Cats Cupboards" on G-P ISD campuses, and how they are being used to tackle food insecurity among students to make sure they're not lacking anything that would prevent them from coming to school.
Sharon Reckaway is the director over family and community engagement for the G-P ISD, and works closely with Jessica Rombs, the lead social worker for the district.
Together, last year, they were able to receive a grant from H-E-B that would allow them to buy extra food to keep on every campus for students who may need extra food for after-school hours and over the weekend.
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"If a faculty member sees that student might be in need of something for the evening, or over the weekend, they’ll send them to the social worker or counselor, they’ll pack some stuff in their backpacks so the student has stuff to tide them over for when they get back to school," Reckaway said.
She explained how the district recognized there was a need for the resource.
"We were hearing it from the campuses, students were coming to teachers on a regular basis needing snacks throughout the day, and just hearing them [students] having conversations about not having food at home, and 'Mom doesn't get paid for a couple of days,' and so, we decided that we needed to do something to help with that - just hearing the needs from the students themselves" Reckaway said.
She and Rombs said this was made possible by the teachers and counselors who were able to alert them to the students who may be needing that extra support.
"The teachers see those students almost everyday and so they have those students that go to them and discuss being hungry, or have a student who may be coming in for the snack everyday," Rombs said. "We do rely on our campus team to help identify those needs and once it comes to us we call those students in, confidentially in, and talk to them for a better understanding of what resources that we may need to help provide."
Bringing the idea of Cats Cupboards to life is something G-P Middle School principal, Dr. John Trevino, says makes him proud to see on his campus.
"It's hard to focus on your studies if you’re hungry, if you’re worried about what you’re going to wear, if you’re scared, intimidated or any of those feelings, then that’s going to take precedence over your math homework," Trevino said. "They [students] feel loved, they know someone is watching out for them and that provides emotional safety, and then you’re ready to do all those other things that you wanna make sure you have the opportunity to do."
The Cats Cupboards pantries are now available on each campus, and is just an extra resource that's provided to the district community. For several years now the clothing closet has been providing like-new or new clothing options to students and families in need for free.
While there, they can also pick up toiletry items and even birthday cake kits to help them celebrate while also baking a cake together. Families can go and shop there on Wednesdays, from 4-5:30 p.m. The closet is located inside the Student Services Center at 110 Lang Road, through Door #2.
To learn more about the various support services offered at Gregory-Portland ISD, click here.
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