Creedmoor ES and Central Texas Food Bank launch first on-campus food pantry
Del Valle ISD’s Creedmoor Elementary School is now home to an on-campus food pantry that will serve the school’s students and families. Launched in collaboration with the Central Texas Food Bank’s Feeding Futures School Pantry Program, the pantry will provide non-perishable goods, fresh fruits and vegetables, protein, and dairy products.
The new on-campus food pantry established as part of the CTFB program is the first in Central Texas, selected based on the food bank’s 2023 Food Access Community Needs Assessment.
“This is a big day for our community. This is a big day for our students. There is nothing more important than your health. So if our kids are going to learn and be prosperous and grow into the individuals we want them to be, we want them to be healthy, and that health starts with nutrition,” said DVISD Superintendent Dr. Annette Tielle. “Thank you all from the bottom of my heart for bringing this to our district and for bringing this to our campus.”
The goal is to serve at least half of the student body, with the food bank providing enough food for 30 meals per student, per month, based on student enrollment. With the launch of the program at Creedmoor ES, the food bank is closing the gap in food access but also providing resources to help families access food on their own.
“Our Feeding Futures School Pantry Program provides immediate and equitable access to nutritious food and services in a familiar environment while also encouraging family involvement in their child’s education,” said Sari Vatske, President and CEO of the Central Texas Food Bank. “Proper nutrition in the earliest years of life supports the success of students in the classroom today and lays the foundation for a future of possibilities.”
The food pantry is located in a school community room near one of the entrances. It is set up like a grocery store with stocked shelves, freezers, refrigerators, and baskets, providing a real shopping experience. In addition to traditional food pantry staples, the Creedmoor location has fresh fruits and vegetables in stock, as well as fresh protein and vegan and gluten-free options to accommodate special dietary needs.
“I’m very excited about this food pantry that we have at Creedmoor Elementary now. I grew up in the Creedmoor community, I’m a DVISD alumni, and this hits home because I know how hard it is not to have a food pantry accessible to you or have any grocery stores accessible to you,” said Yaquelin Cornejo, a parent in the community.
“It’s a commute to a grocery store from where I live. It’s anywhere between thirty and forty minutes if I get on a toll road. During Texas summer, the temperatures are so high that it's a health hazard for me. Now, I can come in ten minutes and have access to meat. I can have access to chicken and beef. I’m very grateful,” she added.
The new food pantry will ensure that children and their families can access meals beyond school hours and during longer breaks, such as weekends, holidays, and summer vacations. While Creedmoor ES is the first in Central Texas to house a food pantry in collaboration with CTFB, the food bank is assessing neighboring counties to expand the program throughout the area.
“On behalf of the Board of Trustees, I want to thank the Central Texas Food Bank for partnering with all of our stakeholders, Principal Moreno, the Creedmoor community here, including the mayor, the district, everybody that was involved,” said Board of Trustees Secretary Matt Worthington. “I just want to thank everybody for partnering together including the sponsors as well who have made this effort happen.”