In 2018, Frenship ISD launched the Tiger Bites program originally designed to provide meals to students during summer break. Over the years, the program has grown to provide food security to Frenship students through weekend food bags, winter break backpacks, and the summer feeding program. Tiger Bites has developed into an umbrella program for the various feeding programs supported by community partners and Frenship ISD.
The counselors and Community in Schools coordinators on each campus help the district identify any students who may be experiencing food insecurity and can benefit from Tiger Bites. This year, over 400 Frenship students across all 16 campuses are supported by the Tiger Bites program.
Each week during the school year, First Baptist Church of Lubbock, Lake Ridge Methodist Church, and Calvary Baptist Church assemble weekend food bags for all 16 Frenship campuses. The Frenship Maintenance Department then collects the tubs of food bags and delivers them to the Casey Administrative Building, where various departments at Casey handle the weekly deliveries.
Brandi Savage, Frenship ISD Special Programs Coordinator, stated that the fundamental goal of the program is to serve the students' most basic needs, which is essential in their growth, learning, and success.
“The Frenship community is so generous in providing for our students,” said Savage. “It is a blessing to be able to deliver these food bags to our families and hopefully provide a little relief in their homes.”
The Tiger Bites program continues to uphold its original summer feeding initiative. Each summer, Aramark provides free meals to any child 18 years old and younger at two locations. This program is open to all children, not just Frenship students. Throughout the summer, Casey Administration staff and Frenship student groups volunteer daily at Tiger Bites, playing games with the children and building relationships with Frenship families.
In preparation for the winter break, several groups collaborate to organize and fill backpacks for the extended holiday. Community partners like the Rotary Club of Lubbock and United Supermarkets provide food and backpacks for the initiative. Students in the Superintendent Advisory Board sort the food by campus and set up assembly lines. The following day, the Willow Bend Elementary Student Council, along with the Rotary Club of Lubbock, pack the backpacks. Once packed, the Frenship Maintenance Department collects and delivers the Tiger Bites bags to the campuses.
Savage stated watching the winter backpacking is the highlight of the year. “We see our students serving other students,” said Savage. “Sometimes I wonder if there are students serving that will be also benefitting from this program or know someone who will. Hopefully, this will make them have a generous heart in the future.”
The culture of Frenship is shaped by programs like Tiger Bites, which exemplify the Frenship Way through servant leadership, fostering positive behaviors in students and staff, and serving the community at every opportunity
The importance of the community partners and maintenance crew could not be understated, according to Savage. They continuously provide aid for our students and help keep the entire operation afloat.