There was a silent auction, cocktails and hors d'oeuvres.
How it started
School Fuel San Marcos, which began in 2013, is a volunteer-based organization that aims to provide San Marcos CISD students facing hunger over the weekend a sack of nutritious and shelf-safe food each Friday of the school year. Each child also receives an additional sack at Christmas, when spring break starts and at the end of the year, which contain Ritz Crackers, an 18-ounce jar of peanut butter and a 1.5-ounce Hershey bar.
School Fuel San Marcos started with 31 children district officials identified as "homeless," according to an email from School Fuel's Treasurer Diane Breedlove. Breedlove noted research has shown food insecurity has negative effects on children's ability to learn, which can continue into adulthood.
"The change in these students' abilities on Monday after they received a sack of weekend food was easily observable and was so impressive that funds were raised to serve more than 200 students at that elementary school in that fall," Breedlove said.
How it's going
Since 2013, School Fuel San Marcos has served about 1,200 students in grades K-10.
"School Fuel works each day to help give children an opportunity to achieve their academic potential," Breedlove said.
Get involved
Breedlove said sacks were assembled at Mendez Elementary School most Thursdays at 5 and 6 p.m. Although registration is not required to volunteer, the schedule can be found at www.signupgenius.com.
