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It hovers around 45 percent.
A look at the number of economically disadvantaged families in the Azle Independent School District (AISD) is like peering through a window at the world.
With U.S. unemployment in double digits, experts predict the 2009 census numbers will see a 15-percent poverty rate. That means more than 45 million families are living below the federal poverty threshold and struggling – sometimes unsuccessfully – to keep clothes on their backs, a roof over their heads and food on the table. More than 2,600 Azle children live in those kinds of families.
Fortunately, the community is aware of this rising number – up from 2,240 in 2009, and is working to provide them with some relief. It starts with food Azle ISD offers free breakfast and lunch to children ages 18 and younger. From now through July 22, the federally-funded Azle ISD “Summer Seamless” food program serves breakfast Monday through Thursday, 7:30 to 8 a.m. at Azle High School, 1200 Boyd Road and lunch from 11 to 11:45 a.m. Lunch is also served Monday and Thursday from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Pelican Bay Park, 1300 Pelican Circle. This is part of the National School Lunch Program established under the National School Lunch Act in 1946, which also provides balanced low-cost or free lunches to children during the regular school year. The summer program targets economically disadvantaged children but it’s not a requirement. Ray Ivey, director of administration for the district, said any Azle child 18 or younger can eat regardless of their economic situation. There’s growing concern in the community about what the kids are eating over the weekend. That concern is what prompted the Azle Food Backpack Program. When school resumes in August, the backpack program picks up where the NSLP leaves off. Private volunteers and donors, working with the Community Caring Center (CCC), are providing weekend meals for a growing number of students in pre-K through grade 4. Each elementary principal has been asked to identify 50 of their poorest children. They are given pre-packaged food to eat over the weekend. With money from private donors, the food is purchased from the Tarrant Area Food Bank by the CCC during their regular weekly visits. It is then packed into backpacks that the children pick up and take home over the weekend. They return the backpacks the following week for a refill. Cost to feed one child for a full year is $180. Cost to feed 50 is $9,000. Ivey said the program is “not only filling bellies but it’s making people feel good about what the community feels about them.” School counselors said that on one campus, a parent who was seldom if ever seen at school has now started coming. On another campus, a child who used to show up tired and listless on Mondays is now fresh, alert and engaged. Azle Food Backpack Program benefactors include several area churches, the Azle Optimist Club and other individuals who prefer to remain anonymous. The community would like to extend the Food Backpack Program to fifth and sixth graders at Azle Elementary and Hoover Elementary. But more donations are needed to feed more children. Anyone can donate by writing checks to the CCC and designating them “for Food Backpack Program.” Starting out fully supplied Another program designed to get Azle school children off to the right start is The Azle Lions Club’s school-supply backpack program. For the second year, the Lions are donating backpacks filled with school supplies to students enrolled in early childhood through grade 6. Program coordinator Rebecca McNutt said Azle has identified around 420 students as “economically disadvantaged... and needing help.” “But the names of the children are never released,” Ivey pointed out. After receiving the school supply list from each campus, the Lions purchase the items and place them into backpacks, which are distributed to the children by school personnel before school starts. Surplus filled backpacks will be sold to the public on Saturday, August 7 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at 412 Commerce. Proceeds help purchase supplies and backpacks for next year. The Lions’ backpack program is Azle’s version of Fort Worth’s Back-to-School Roundup, which in its sixth year is expected to provide around 10,000 filled backpacks to Tarrant County school children who meet 2010 federal poverty income guidelines. Registration is now underway for the Back to School Roundup, traditionally reserved for elementary students but going through grade 12 this year. The actual “Roundup” will be on Thursday, Aug. 12 at the Amon G. Carter Jr. Exhibits Hall, Will Rogers Memorial Center in Fort Worth. Azle families who reside in Tarrant County can preregister by filling out the form at www.backtoschoolroundup.org. and taking it with them to any of the locations listed on the website. Families must meet the 2010 federal poverty income guidelines, present photo identification, show proof of income and residency and bring immunization records. The August 12, “roundup” will also include children’s activities and free health, dental and vision screenings. |
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