"When a student’s basic needs are met, they are more likely to reach their academic goals in the classroom."

More than 75% of our Tyler ISD student population is considered economically disadvantaged, resulting in many of our students facing food insecurity and lacking essential supplies like hygiene products, school supplies, and even a winter coat on a daily or frequent basis. The good news? Something can be done about it, and people want to help. In a collaborative partnership with Tyler ISD, our community partner, and volunteers are rallying to meet our student's needs. With your help, we’ll be able to sustain and grow this vital initiative together.

It all started when a middle school teacher voiced concern for a student struggling with schoolwork and behavior in class. He was not where he needed to be with his studies, and he’d lost a significant amount of interest in school activities he once loved. Turns out, he did not have enough to eat when he was not at school and would often ask to go to the nurse for hygiene items. This resulted in the first of many grant applications to the Tyler ISD Foundation for a student's needs "nook/closet/store." While the mission of Tyler ISD Foundation is rooted in educational opportunities, you cannot learn when your basic needs are not met. After receiving several grant applications from across our middle school and high school campuses; it did not take long for the Tyler ISD Foundation Board members to decide we’re not having it. Together with campus nurses and counselors, we began a think tank on how to support our students in need in an equitable, consistent, and sustainable way.

The Tyler ISD Foundation Care Closets are on-campus closets filled with clothing, hygiene products, and school supplies for students in need. The closets also double as the food pantry for the weekend backpack program, which provides bags of shelf-stable food items that can be used to prepare two meals for a family of four for $7 - $9.

There are three ways you can support Tyler ISD Care Closets:

1. You can volunteer to help set up a campus closet, assemble food bags, or donate Care Closet items.

2. Your organization can host a food/supply drive, host an off-site “bag build”, volunteer as a group to assemble bags at a Tyler ISD campus, or adopt a school for ongoing Care Closet support.

3. Don’t have time to shop or are unable to volunteer? You can still help! Make a contribution to Tyler ISD Foundation Care Closets—we’ll use your gift to purchase items for students in need.

$8 = Provides 7 meals for 1 student

$60 = Provides 70 meals for 10 students

$160 = Provides 100 meals for 20 students

$800 = Provides 700 meals for 100 students

$3,500 = Provides 1 fully stocked Care Closet*

If your family is experiencing food or resource insecurity, please talk to your campus counselor to learn more about available resources within Tyler ISD.