With all the things students need to buy for back-to-school time, Montgomery County Food Bank President and CEO Kristine Marlow knows this is an expensive time of year for local families.
“Given inflation and the cost of those goods, plus the cost of groceries, all of those add up and can really stretch someone’s already small budget,” she said. “If there is some kind of unplanned emergency like a hospital visit or a car repair, it can create a big hardship for families. We do see families turning to the food bank and our partners helping bridge that gap.”
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In addition to the food bank supporting the greater community of Montgomery County, the food bank and its staff and volunteers are also active in the county’s schools. Conroe ISD Superintendent Curtis Null is on the board for the food bank.
Here are four ways the organization supports students and families:
Mobile Markets
The organization regularly hosts mobile food distribution markets at schools. They are hosted at Title I campuses which are campuses with a high socio-economically disadvantaged group of students.
“We bring fresh foods and fresh produce, meat, bread and nutritious foods from the food bank,” she said.
The drive-through event is typically held at the school’s parking lot.
Marlow said one moment that particularly touched her was when the food bank had fresh strawberries from a donor to give out at one of the school markets.
“The children in the car were so excited that they could have fresh strawberries that evening. I was so touched that this family was able to have something that they probably would not have been able to afford otherwise,” she said.
There are several mobile markets a month at schools across the county and more at different locations in the county. In July, in a partnership with H-E-B and Conroe ISD they were able to serve 1,000 families with students returning to school.
She estimated 150 to 200 families are reached at each mobile market.
Visit the food bank’s Facebook page for an updated list of mobile markets.
School food pantries
In the 2022-23 school year, the food bank also supported food pantries at 21 schools across the county at intermediate, junior high and high-school levels.
“Since the children are already at the schools every day, the food pantry is readily available to them,” she said.
More than 7,000 students received help last school year.
A new larger school pantry that is funded by Amazon opened at Travis Intermediate School in Conroe ISD in December.
Amazon backpack deliveries
The food bank has a backpack food assistance program that is popular with elementary age students.
“We’ve found out that there are many students who receive the free or reduced lunches at the school but don’t have access to that type of food on the weekend,” she said.
Through this program, children are identified by their counselor or other staff members as someone who might need food assistance over the weekend.
They are provided a kid friendly backpack filled with food that is easy to eat and has high nutritional value.
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At a peak, there are 1,300 a week receiving backpacks at 48 schools. Through a partnership with Amazon, an Amazon truck picks up the backpacks and delivers them to schools across the country.
Nutrition education
The food bank is staffed with a nutrition educator, Amy Gentry.
She offers free nutrition and cooking classes to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program eligible residents in Montgomery County. A variety of classes are offered to all ages though curriculum from Feeding Texas. Classes focus on the five food groups, healthy eating habits, how to eat healthier on a budget, and more. Classes are interactive with cooking demonstrations. She also participates in food nutrition programs in the schools and in the community.
Next up for the food bank, Shootout Hunger, is an annual sporting clays tournament benefiting Montgomery County Food Bank. The fundraiser is 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sept. 15 at Blackwood Sporting Co. in Conroe.
For more on the Montgomery County Food Bank and their upcoming events on their website.
