Spring Branch ISD Featured News

School Market now available for Spring Branch area families

December 8, 2023 4:15 PM

Freshness, sustenance, and big hearts. All are evident at Spring Woods Middle School in Spring Branch ISD as it serves as a hub for free distribution of groceries and home goods, provided by the Houston Food Bank (HFB).

Two Mondays per month (see dates below), a HFB food truck is stationed in the parking lot in front of the school’s library from 4:30 to 7:00 p.m. Staff members and student volunteers assist families who come to receive the generously provided donations.

Recently, on just the second distribution day of the 2023-24 school year, over 300 families came to the School Market at SWMS, and went home with items such as fresh produce, canned fruit, potatoes, pork, tomato sauce, pasta, juice and walnuts.

The staff and volunteers who organize the event with the Houston Food Bank aim to increase the number of families served to close to 450 by next semester. School Market dates are publicized via fliers to area apartment complexes, social media, call outs, Communities in Schools liaisons at SBISD schools, and more.

School Market is open to the entire Spring Branch community

In order to participate, families obtain an HFB identification number from a volunteer on the SWMS site the first time they visit. The number can also be used at any other Houston Food Bank distribution center.

“Feeling the warmth and joy at events such as our School Market at SWMS, not only provides a much-needed service to our neighbors and friends, but also beautifies our community and the soul, while fostering a profound sense of interconnectedness and shared humanity,” said Dr. Jose Herrera, Instructional Specialist and School Market organizer at Spring Woods Middle School.

Volunteers are vital to the operation

“As you can imagine, this initiative takes a lot of coordination and hands on deck,” said Herrera. “We are very lucky to have Luis Guillen on our team, as he has helped us in recruiting members from the National Honor Society (NHS) at Spring Woods High School.”

Guillen, son of a SWMS staff member, convinced more than 10 NHS volunteers to serve at the Market throughout the school year.

“We all came from Spring Woods Middle School,” said Guillen. “We felt that it was our turn to set an example by helping out at a community event.”

SWMS counselors also recruited some eighth-grade students to serve at the School Market, providing them a chance to give back to the Spring Branch community. Guillen noted that the volunteers in the group from SWHS are learning to be compassionate leaders while modeling to the future generation of high school students the importance of participating in community service.

“It makes me feel grateful and delighted to provide families around Spring Branch with food during a difficult time,” said Guillen.

Other groups in the community, or individuals, who wish to volunteer at the School Market should contact Dr. Herrera at jose.herrera@springbranchisd.com for more information.

“Growing up in this community, I am in continuous awe of the generosity of our phenomenal SBISD staff and community members who give their time and resources to support our community and help our neighbors,” added Herrera.

Upcoming SWMS School Market dates