Back in 2011, the Rotary Club of Lubbock spearheaded the event and partnered with Frenship ISD for the Winter Tiger Bites program that helps combat food insecurity while students are out of school during the break. Over the years, the program and donations have continued to grow but so has the need. This year, volunteers packed 500 backpacks with food, 100 more bags than last year.
“It’s amazing to see how the community comes together to help this program grow each year, but it’s also bittersweet that we know we have at least 500 families of Frenship students who are food insecure,” said Frenship ISD Superintendent Dr. Michelle McCord. “Over the holidays, school-aged kiddos, who are usually getting a meal at school at no cost if they qualify for that program, are now at home. These backpacks provide a little extra help.”
The event is a joint effort spanning two-days that volunteers describe as “organized chaos”. On day one, Frenship High School and Ninth Grade Center students in the Superintendent’s Student Advisory Board unpack, sort, count, and organize the food onto tables to make the packing process easier.
Zosia Storey, a ninth-grade student and future Frenship Memorial High School Panther, says she is grateful for the opportunity to help her fellow classmates. “The holiday season can be rough for some families. A little deed like this can help a lot,” said Storey. “Helping other people, it was such an awesome event to experience.”
On day two, the Willow Bend Elementary Student Council, Frenship administrators, Frenship maintenance crews, and Rotary Club of Lubbock volunteers work side by side, assembly-line style to fill the 500 backpacks with food.
Jentry Davis, a fifth grader and Willow Bend Student Council Vice President, enjoyed getting to volunteer with his classmates and community helpers. “We’ve been stuffing the backpacks for people who need special help with food. It makes me happy because I know they will have something to eat,” said Davis. “I hope they have a nice Christmas.”
Once the bags are packed, Frenship maintenance crews deliver the backpacks to the campuses for the Frenship families to take home. It’s two days of love, laughter, and a lot of work to help bring hope to families across Frenship.
“I hope they know people care about them, not only during the holidays but all year long,” said Terry Greenberg, Rotary Club of Lubbock Past President.
Frenship ISD would like to thank the many sponsors and volunteers who help with this event possible including the Rotary Club of Lubbock, Aramark, Betenbough Homes, BGR Architects, First Baptist Church, Peoples Bank, Prosperity Bank, Reese Technology Center, R.E. Janes Gravel Co., and the South Plains Food Bank.
To learn more about Frenship ISD’s year-round Tiger Bites food program, CLICK HERE.