During a recent government meeting, Erin French, the director of counseling, introduced Michael Garrett, CEO of Trusted World, a nonprofit organization that has been collaborating with the McKinney Independent School District (MISD) for over eight years. Garrett detailed the significant impact Trusted World has had on local families facing situational poverty, emphasizing the organization's role as a resource hub for school counselors and nonprofits.

Trusted World operates by providing essential items such as clothing, food, and toiletries directly to school counselors, who then discreetly distribute these resources to families in need. This model has allowed Trusted World to assist over 93,000 individuals last year alone, despite having a small staff of just 11 people, thanks to a robust network of volunteers and partnerships with 450 schools, 23 school districts, and numerous nonprofits and law enforcement agencies across 70 counties.

Garrett highlighted the importance of addressing family issues rather than just focusing on individual children, noting that situational poverty often forces families to make difficult choices between basic needs like rent and food. By empowering school counselors with resources, Trusted World aims to keep families stable and in their homes.

The organization is set to expand its services to include mental health and medical insurance options, which will be introduced to school counselors in an upcoming training session. This initiative aims to further enhance the support available to families, allowing counselors to connect them with necessary services seamlessly.

Garrett also addressed the issue of homelessness among students, revealing that Trusted World has a dedicated directory to assist homeless families, which is crucial given that MISD has approximately 6,650 homeless students. The collaboration between Trusted World and local schools has transformed how counselors can support families, alleviating the financial burden they previously faced when trying to help.

In closing, Garrett requested increased visibility and support from the school board and community to promote Trusted World’s services, emphasizing that the organization does not charge for its resources. The meeting underscored the vital role Trusted World plays in the community and its commitment to expanding support for families in need.