SAN ANTONIO — It was bumper to bumper traffic at San Antonio Independent School District’s Alamo Stadium parking lot, and it wasn’t for a high school playoff game. The traffic was made up of families attending the district’s food distribution.
Cars lined up at 10 a.m. for a food drive that didn’t start until 2 p.m.
“We don’t want people to be embarrassed or ashamed because we know times are tough and they’ve been tough,” Jackie Navar said.
Navar has seen the need as a former principal and now as a family and community engagement specialist for SAISD.
According to the Texas Education Agency, 87% of families in SAISD are economically disadvantaged.
“The need is always there whether it’s for our parents, our students…which is why we do this on a yearly basis,” Navar said.
SAISD and food bank officials say the food drive was much larger this year; over 30,000 pounds of food was distributed to 500 families.
“We are trying to do everything possible to make sure that we support our families,” SAISD Superintendent Jaime Aquino said.
Aquino said families are still reeling from when Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits ran dry this past fall. He said SAISD pivoted recently to support those needs.
“That’s why we expanded our supper program; we wanted to make sure that our families, we are taking care of them,” Aquino said.
In 2012, SAISD offered take-home supper to a limited number of campuses with after school programs.
This past fall, the supper program is now at 64 campuses.
“That’s one less thing parents must worry about, aside from paying the bills, making sure the electricity is on,” Navar said.
It’s one of many concerns, she says, families in this historically underprivileged district have.
“All of our kids need to eat, all of our families need to eat, and they all need dinner so we are trying to make sure they are healthy meals,” Navar said.