Upon arrival, SNS staff noticed that the church had a Back-to-School outreach program to provide backpacks and school supplies to families in the area. As a gesture of appreciation and community partnership, the nutrition staff bought a backpack to donate to their cause.
“We let the SNS staff know of this plan and said if anyone wished to make a monetary donation in appreciation of the hospitality shown to us, we would add it to the backpack,” wrote SNS Assistant Director Training & Federal Programs, Sondra Thomas. “After lunch we presented the backpack to one of the pastors of the church with more than $1,100 inside! That money will go towards buying school supplies for students in need. It was absolutely incredible. The church staff was so surprised and greatly touched by the generosity of our staff.”
Next spring, Mansfield ISD will use the building to house Student Nutrition Services as well as the Department of Research, Assessment, & Accountability.