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Metrocrest Services brings mobile food pantries to Carrollton‑Farmers Branch ISD, says it has served 34,000 pounds of produce
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Summary
Metrocrest Services told meeting attendees it is partnering with Carrollton‑Farmers Branch Independent School District (CFB ISD) to host mobile food pantry stops at four schools and has distributed more than 34,000 pounds of produce to district families; referrals go through school counselors and some stops offer ESL and other services.
Metrocrest Services announced a partnership with Carrollton‑Farmers Branch Independent School District (CFB ISD) to bring mobile food pantries directly to district schools, and the organization said it has distributed more than 34,000 pounds of produce to families in the district.
"Our new partnership with CFD ISD, bringing our mobile food pantries directly to the schools, we have served over 34,000 pounds of produce to families that are within the school district," said Caitlin Hartigory, director of marketing and communications for Metrocrest Services. Hartigory introduced the program during a presentation to school stakeholders.
Hartigory said the mobile pantry stops currently operate at four CFB ISD schools and are timed to coincide with parent pickup so families can collect fresh produce while they pick up students. "So we have 4 different schools that we're working with currently that we are, having mobile food pantry stops at," she said. Referrals to Metrocrest Services, Hartigory said, can be made through any school counselor.
Beyond food distribution, Metrocrest Services uses the pantry stops to connect families to other local programs. "Not only that, but the mobile food pantry provides us an opportunity to share with those families the other programs that we have available to them here in the community," Hartigory said, noting the organization offers ESL classes on site at some locations. "We have ESL here on-site, which is so amazing."
Hartigory framed the effort as part of Metrocrest Services' broader mission to help families achieve self‑sufficiency: "One of the first things we do for that is to meet basic needs. And what is more basic than making sure everybody has food on their plate?"
Metrocrest Services did not specify in the presentation which four schools currently host pantry stops, nor did the organization give a timetable for expansion beyond the current sites. Attendees were told how to make referrals and that the pantry stops are intended to be an entry point to additional services such as ESL, budgeting help and other community programs.
Metrocrest Services recommended school counselors as the primary referral route and urged families to contact their counselors for assistance. The presentation concluded with an invitation to use the pantry stops as a way to connect families to broader services in the community.
