By Rita Cook
Correspondent
Texas Metro News
LANCASTER – Lancaster ISD just added another first to its list of wins.
The District is the first in the Best Southwest to participate in the Thrive program, which stands for Together Harnessing Resources to Give Individuals
Voice and Empowerment.
In addition to addressing food insecurity, the program provides students with resiliency skills training using interactive learning modules and connects families to wraparound social services such as clothing assistance, housing resources and mental health counseling.
Lancaster ISD became involved with the THRIVE program through a grant application, according to Kimberly Simpson, MA, Chief of Communications, Lancaster Independent School District.
THRIVE North Texas is now in six districts across the region. It was initially implemented in Sanger ISD in 2019 through the first of two Texas Health Community Impact grants. At that time THRIVE was so successful the Texas Health Resources Foundation launched a fundraising campaign to expand it across North Texas.
Since then, THRIVE North Texas has been implemented on campuses in Lewisville, Fort Worth, Terrell and Dallas. The program is also expanding later this year to Southwest High School in Fort Worth.
Last week, Lancaster ISD was the latest school district to open a food market to help fight hunger providing students and staff access to free, healthy food as part of the expanded Texas Health Resources program.
The program also aims to improve student mental health across North Texas.
The community gathered for the ribbon-cutting ceremony to officially open what the ISD is calling the WEBO Market.
The market was named after Lancaster ISD’s motto, “WE Believe in Orange.”
WEBO Market is located next to the Lancaster ISD Police Department, which is adjacent to Lancaster Middle School and is open Monday to Thursday each week excluding district holidays and closures.
Summer hours will vary as well and there will be a rotating schedule for students to place and pick up orders.
The food is provided by WEBO partners the North Texas Food Bank, Lineage, Sprouts, and Kroger. There is also a partnership with Tackle tomorrow to assist with non-perishable items.
Dr. A.K. Perera, superintendent of schools in Lancaster ISD said, “The addition of the WEBO Market to Lancaster ISD is a game changer for our students and families. Access to fresh, nutritious food is essential for student success, and this initiative aligns with our commitment to supporting the whole child while providing our Career and Technical Education students with hands-on experience as they work and operate the store. “We are grateful to all our supporters for investing in the well-being of our community and helping to remove barriers to learning.”
More than 7,000 students who attend Lancaster ISD’s 12 campuses, 80% of whom are considered economically disadvantaged, will be able to take advantage of the program along with the 900 district employees.
The expansion of the program to Lancaster ISD was made possible by community partners, including Dallas County, and through generous donations to the Texas Health Resources Foundation, including those from lead supporters Patricia and Fernando De Leon and the United Way of Metropolitan Dallas.
Laura McWhorter, President of the Texas Health Resources Foundation added, “Oh my gosh, when you walk in this market, first it looks great and it really represents the Tiger Nation and ‘We believe in orange.’ I mean you just look at the floor and it comes to life.
“But really seeing all the shelves stocked and having that shopping experience that people can come in and choose what they need is such a wonderful gift that our supporters helped make happen.”
Simpson explained participation in the WEBO Market is being implemented in a phased approach over the next six months. Phase 1 currently happening is the market being opened to serve the ISD’s homeless student population.
Phase 2 will expand access to all students and Phase 3 will allow the store’s resources to be available to all students and staff.
“This structured rollout ensures we effectively meet the needs of our students while gradually expanding support,” Simpson said.
The THRIVE programs are typically funded for two years through donor gifts to the Texas Health Resources Foundation before becoming self-sustaining.
Preliminary numbers from the three schools currently being funded through Texas Health in Fort Worth, Terrell and Dallas show the campuses distributed more than 14,000 pounds of food to 628 students and more than 1,300 staff members during the 2023-24 school year.
On average, the three schools also saw an almost 26% decrease in the number of disciplinary referrals compared with the year prior to THRIVE’s arrival.
Marsha Ingle, senior director of Community Health Improvement for Texas Health concluded, “The mental health component of THRIVE is greatly changing the and scape and how students react to their emotions.”
Rita Cook is a world traveler and writer/editor who specializes in writing on travel, auto, crime and politics. A correspondent for Texas Metro News, she has published 11 books and has also produced low-budget films.
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