Royse City, TX- June 26, 2025
At Royse City ISD, we believe that a well-fed child is a child ready to learn. While providing food might not be a typical school district function, the dedication of individuals like our own Loretta Smith makes it an integral part of our commitment to student success. Loretta, an HR Administrative Assistant, exemplifies this commitment through her leadership of our robust School Pantry program.
Loretta's journey with the School Pantry began simply: she recognized a critical need. Learning that students were arriving at school hungry ignited a passion in her to take action. Though running a food program was never part of her official job description, Loretta felt a calling. As she puts it, "It's been placed on my heart to do this. This is what I look forward to."
From Acknowledged Need to District-Wide Impact
Years ago, our district had a program that sent food home with students over weekends, but when that program ended, the need for food assistance didnure. Loretta and her peers knew the hunger didn't disappear. Connecting with the North Texas Food Bank (NTFB), Loretta stepped up, taking charge of implementing a new, comprehensive School Pantry program across the entire district. Her philosophy is clear: "It's about taking that gap and making it smaller and letting them know we really do care."
In less than two years, Loretta has transformed the School Pantry program into an impactful service, reaching children from our early childhood center all the way up to our high school. Her incredible work was recently recognized on June 13 at Taste!, the North Texas Food Bank's event at the Star in Frisco that raised enough money to provide nearly 2.5 million meals for children facing hunger in our community.
Reaching Our Community: Distributions and Care Closets
With the invaluable help of student and staff volunteers, Loretta orchestrates monthly drive-through food distributions. These serve not only our students and their families, but also our dedicated teachers and the broader community. Understanding that transportation can be a barrier, Loretta collaborates with district bus drivers to deliver food directly, or she personally ensures families receive their much-needed support.
The reach of the program extends beyond just students. Loretta notes that they also serve hard-working faculty members facing higher costs of living, as well as older adults in the community on fixed incomes. Currently, the program supports around 240 families each month.
Beyond the monthly distributions, Royse City ISD has established "Care Closets" on our campuses. These discreet resources allow school counselors to provide students with backpacks filled with food, ensuring privacy and dignity as they receive assistance.
Loretta frequently hears from teachers who report a positive difference in students' well-being and academic performance thanks to the pantry program. We are proud to foster a climate where our families know they can approach the district for support whenever they need it, all working towards the shared goal of helping every child succeed. As Loretta affirms, "It makes a huge difference for the kids. I'm just so thankful the North Texas Food Bank has given us the opportunity to serve our community.”