The city of Pflugerville will help address food insecurities within the school district by allocating $100,000 to Pfood Pfairness, a nonprofit focused on ensuring students receive a nutritious lunch without worrying about the cost.
The funds, approved by City Council on Tuesday, will be used to pay the lunches of students who do not have the means to purchase school meals. Corey Ann Amador, the executive director of the Pfood Pfairness, said the group relies on the help from school administrators to know which students need the funds.
“Your contribution will provide students with hot, nutritious lunches, sparing them embarrassment and helping alleviate a financial burden for their families,” Amador told the council.
Council Member Jim McDonald said nutritious meals are key to ensure students’ success in school.
“I think it’s absolutely critical if we have the ability to support your organization (to do so),” McDonald said. “I cannot think of a better expense than to feed our children so that they can be successful.”
Pfood Fairness was started in April by brothers John and Max Amador, who are both Hendrickson High School students. The organization’s goal is to ensure that students do not have “choose between hunger and humiliation.”
The organization already has paid over $12,000 in outstanding fees for lunches, Cory Amador said. She said the organization currently only has $11,000 to help provide students with the funds to purchase lunches for the school year. They money was raised by setting up fundraising booth across events in the city. H-E-B and Costco also each donated $1,000.
Amador said her sons started the organization once they learned the Pflugerville school district would provide an alternative meal of a cheese sandwich to students who owed more than $7.
In a policy update to parents in April, the district said the alternative meal would cost $2, or $0.40 for students eligible for a reduced lunch. A regular meal costs $3.15 for secondary students and $2.90 for elementary students. The district also said it would make the best effort to not bring attention to the student during the entree exchange. Students who owe a balance cannot buy any a la carte items.
Tamra Spence, a spokesperson for the said staff is working with families to set up payments plans and to ensure they apply for a free or reduced lunch. Spence said the district was unable to keep providing free meals for the 2022-23 school year after federal COVID funding was discontinued.
According to the district’s website, it still provides free breakfast and lunches to students at Delco, Dessau, Northwest, River Oaks and Ruth Barron elementaries, and Dessau and Westview middle schools for the 2023-24 school year.
“Pflugerville ISD values the significant impact of the Pfood Pfairness initiative and encourages ongoing support for their nonprofit,” Spence said. “With the proactive approach of these students and the PfISD community, the district is confident in its ability to make a lasting difference and create an inclusive environment where all students can thrive.”
At Tuesday’s meeting, Council Member Ceasar Ruiz said he understands the financial predicament the district may be in, but said it needs to do better.
“I am going to send a challenge to the school board and find ways to help you,” he said.