Abilene Cares: Care Packs for AISD students!
Donation protected
Approximately 3 out of 4 students enrolled at Abilene ISD are eligible for free-and-reduced lunch. In other words, roughly 74% students in AISD live in a low-income household where families already struggle to put food on the table. With schools closing as a result of COVID-19, the need experienced by these families is continuing to grow. This problem may be compounded if employers start cutting hours or closing their doors to non-essential wage workers, as other cities are already experiencing across the U.S.
Every week during the typical school year, Abilene ISD and Love and Care Ministries partner to deliver more than 1,000 Care Packs to students each Friday. Their incredible volunteer teams fill these Care Packs with food, snacks, and drinks every week for families. In light of the school district closure and increasing need for families in our community, Love and Care and AISD are putting together more than 2,600 Care Packs every two weeks! At roughly $4 a pack, it costs roughly $10,000 to provide these Care Packs. If schools are closed for the remaining 8 weeks of the semester, that’s close to $80,000.
As a licensed social worker who previously worked in Texas school districts, I find myself unable to sit back and watch as the level of need continues to rise. I have spent the last few weeks talking with AISD social workers, homeless liaisons, care pack coordinators, concerned teachers, and other agency representatives in our community who are looking out for these families. The general consensus is this: they have the volunteers. They have the delivery system set up and active. They are able to identify the families in greatest need. They have the ability to get food at bulk prices. So what’s needed? The money to fund additional packs as demand increases.
During my 8+ years as a resident of Abilene, I have watched local agencies and members of our community come together on behalf of those in need. I am developing this gofundme in confidence that this will continue to happen! Because Abilene Cares.
No amount is too small or too large. If you are unable to donate at this time, please contribute by sharing this effort with your friends, family, and colleagues.
Please share this with as many people as possible to help us meet our goal as quickly as possible.
If you would like to mail a check directly to the AISD Homeless Student Office, please contact me at [email redacted] for the mailing address.
FAQs:
Q: Why should I fund the Care Packs instead of donating in other ways?
A: The Care Pack program is an established program in Abilene with more than 3,000 volunteers in an average year. This program has a number of community partners already engaged in their efforts. AISD social workers and homeless liaisons are best equipped to identify the needs of students and families in the district, they have relationships with the majority of these students, and there is an AISD hotline established for families to call in case of significant crisis and need.
Also, Care Packs provide food at bulk-rate prices, which means that your money goes further to feed these students than a grocery-store gift card or other gift would. Many agencies are also collecting funds to serve the needs of vulnerable families, which will certainly benefit them in the long-term. However, the Care Packs help address the immediate needs in the short-term until our local community agencies can implement long-term solutions.
Q: What other resources are helping families get food?
A: Thankfully, we have many great agencies supplying food to the community. For families who are able to drive to one of the campus sites, AISD provides free to-go breakfast and lunch Monday-Friday with breakfast 7 AM – 9 AM and Lunch 11 AM – 1 PM. The Food Bank of West Central Texas also has a detailed calendar with food banks and meal sites for community members. Care Packs do not replace what these agencies are already doing, but help supplement it by delivering food straight to the doors of students.
Q: How will you get these funds to AISD or Love and Care?
A: I am collaborating very closely with the homeless liaison at AISD, the head social worker at AISD, and representatives at Love and Care ministries. All 100% of funds donated will help AISD purchase Care Packs from Love and Care Ministries to feed families. Donations will go to a separate bank account and will not go through my personal account.
Q: Can I donate food, gift cards, etc. directly to the schools?
A: It can be tough for the schools to deal with lots of people and donations, especially when staff are also working remotely during this time. If you are interested in donating directly and would prefer not to use this platform, please email [email redacted].
Q: Why are you doing this?
A: Bottom line: there is a significant and rising need in our community, and I strongly believe that we each have an opportunity to love our neighbors in a practical way during this time. When you’ve worked closely with students and families who are struggling, heard the stories, and forever remember their names, it’s impossible to sit back and not act in a time like this. As a social worker and resident of this community, I have the connections and skills necessary to organize something like this, and I want to use those to best serve our Abilene neighbors.
Q: What if schools reopen prior to the end of the school year?
A: If that is the case, great! However, the Care Pack program is a year-long program that regularly allows more than 1,300 kids to have food during the weekends when they are unable to get free or reduced meals at school. The money received will continue to be used to fund these Care Packs.
Disclaimer: This is not an official AISD or Love and Care fundraiser. I am doing this on behalf of AISD as a concerned resident who wants to supplement what the school system and other community agencies are already doing to support these kids. If you have any questions, please feel free to email [email redacted]
Every week during the typical school year, Abilene ISD and Love and Care Ministries partner to deliver more than 1,000 Care Packs to students each Friday. Their incredible volunteer teams fill these Care Packs with food, snacks, and drinks every week for families. In light of the school district closure and increasing need for families in our community, Love and Care and AISD are putting together more than 2,600 Care Packs every two weeks! At roughly $4 a pack, it costs roughly $10,000 to provide these Care Packs. If schools are closed for the remaining 8 weeks of the semester, that’s close to $80,000.
As a licensed social worker who previously worked in Texas school districts, I find myself unable to sit back and watch as the level of need continues to rise. I have spent the last few weeks talking with AISD social workers, homeless liaisons, care pack coordinators, concerned teachers, and other agency representatives in our community who are looking out for these families. The general consensus is this: they have the volunteers. They have the delivery system set up and active. They are able to identify the families in greatest need. They have the ability to get food at bulk prices. So what’s needed? The money to fund additional packs as demand increases.
During my 8+ years as a resident of Abilene, I have watched local agencies and members of our community come together on behalf of those in need. I am developing this gofundme in confidence that this will continue to happen! Because Abilene Cares.
No amount is too small or too large. If you are unable to donate at this time, please contribute by sharing this effort with your friends, family, and colleagues.
Please share this with as many people as possible to help us meet our goal as quickly as possible.
If you would like to mail a check directly to the AISD Homeless Student Office, please contact me at [email redacted] for the mailing address.
FAQs:
Q: Why should I fund the Care Packs instead of donating in other ways?
A: The Care Pack program is an established program in Abilene with more than 3,000 volunteers in an average year. This program has a number of community partners already engaged in their efforts. AISD social workers and homeless liaisons are best equipped to identify the needs of students and families in the district, they have relationships with the majority of these students, and there is an AISD hotline established for families to call in case of significant crisis and need.
Also, Care Packs provide food at bulk-rate prices, which means that your money goes further to feed these students than a grocery-store gift card or other gift would. Many agencies are also collecting funds to serve the needs of vulnerable families, which will certainly benefit them in the long-term. However, the Care Packs help address the immediate needs in the short-term until our local community agencies can implement long-term solutions.
Q: What other resources are helping families get food?
A: Thankfully, we have many great agencies supplying food to the community. For families who are able to drive to one of the campus sites, AISD provides free to-go breakfast and lunch Monday-Friday with breakfast 7 AM – 9 AM and Lunch 11 AM – 1 PM. The Food Bank of West Central Texas also has a detailed calendar with food banks and meal sites for community members. Care Packs do not replace what these agencies are already doing, but help supplement it by delivering food straight to the doors of students.
Q: How will you get these funds to AISD or Love and Care?
A: I am collaborating very closely with the homeless liaison at AISD, the head social worker at AISD, and representatives at Love and Care ministries. All 100% of funds donated will help AISD purchase Care Packs from Love and Care Ministries to feed families. Donations will go to a separate bank account and will not go through my personal account.
Q: Can I donate food, gift cards, etc. directly to the schools?
A: It can be tough for the schools to deal with lots of people and donations, especially when staff are also working remotely during this time. If you are interested in donating directly and would prefer not to use this platform, please email [email redacted].
Q: Why are you doing this?
A: Bottom line: there is a significant and rising need in our community, and I strongly believe that we each have an opportunity to love our neighbors in a practical way during this time. When you’ve worked closely with students and families who are struggling, heard the stories, and forever remember their names, it’s impossible to sit back and not act in a time like this. As a social worker and resident of this community, I have the connections and skills necessary to organize something like this, and I want to use those to best serve our Abilene neighbors.
Q: What if schools reopen prior to the end of the school year?
A: If that is the case, great! However, the Care Pack program is a year-long program that regularly allows more than 1,300 kids to have food during the weekends when they are unable to get free or reduced meals at school. The money received will continue to be used to fund these Care Packs.
Disclaimer: This is not an official AISD or Love and Care fundraiser. I am doing this on behalf of AISD as a concerned resident who wants to supplement what the school system and other community agencies are already doing to support these kids. If you have any questions, please feel free to email [email redacted]
Organizer
Bre Heinrich
Organizer
Abilene, TX
