ARLINGTON, Texas–Desoto ISD’s Cockrell Hill Elementary Childhood Hunger Initiative Power Pack program (CHIPP) has received a $7,000 donation from Texas Trust Credit Union to provide non-perishable food to keep students from going hungry over weekends and during school breaks.
Through CHIPP, Cockrell Hill elementary provides “power pack” backpacks filled with nutritious food for 100 students each Friday to ensure they have something healthy to eat over the weekend until they return to school, according to Texas trust. Each power pack contains breakfast, lunch and snacks for two days, along with a can of vegetables and fruit.
The credit union added that students who come to school hungry have difficulty focusing, which negatively impacts their ability to learn. The Cockrell Hill CHIPP program, which began during the 2023-2024 school year, helps care for the students whose families may be struggling to put food on the table.
“When children are hungry, they are distracted and not likely to do well in school,” Velisha Mosby, DeSoto ISD PTA Council president, said in a statement. “Our power pack program supplements children’s meals at home so they can eat well and come to school prepared to learn. We are grateful to Texas Trust for their donation and concern about our students’ well-being.”
TTCU said the power pack backpacks generally contain enough food to replace the meals a child would receive at school. The program is managed by volunteers affiliated with The Pearls of the Ivy Foundation, Inc. and overseen by the Desoto ISD PTA Council executive board.
In addition, volunteers from Texas Trust, alongside community volunteers, help prepare the bags for distribution every month.
“Inflation is having a significant impact on families, which is increasing food insecurity among children,” Toni Nichols, public relations Manager for Texas Trust Credit Union, said in a statement. “Through this program we are able to have a direct impact on student success and help build a stronger community.”
Texas Trust was able to support the Cockrell Hill Elementary CHIPP program through a grant it received from the Cornerstone Foundation, the charitable arm of the Cornerstone Credit Union League.