School Market

Alleviating child and teen hunger by providing food to students and their families at middle and high schools.

School Market Safety

School Market distribution models have been modified to ensure the safety of students, staff, and community. The modified Mobile and Brick and Mortar models were created to offer flexible distribution options, due to COVID-19, for our partners. In addition, School Markets may also be sponsored by a local pantry or higher education partner. Please refer to the modified distribution models outline designed in response to COVID-19.

One in five Southeast Texas children is considered food insecure, which means they don’t have consistent access to enough nutritious food. Children need nourishment for success—nourishment of body, mind, and spirit.

The School Market program was developed to improve access to nutritional foods to middle and high school students, a vulnerable population that can be difficult to serve as they outgrow programs like Kids Cafe and Backpack Buddy. School Markets are located on the grounds of a school with set distribution schedules.

A key feature of School Markets is that they are staffed by students who receive trainings on how to set up product, restock and clean up the area after distributions. Besides being an opportunity for practiced leadership for student volunteers, School Markets provide critical nutrition to older children which results in better grades, improved attendance, and a healthier community.

The Houston Food Bank is looking to partner with schools/organizations that will support students and their families as they work towards healthy, stable lives. HFB School Market representatives work with partners to monitor, collect and track the progress and outcome of school pantry neighbors as they journey towards self-sufficiency.

  • Agree to designate 2 of your staff members to provide oversight of the student market.
  • Agree to provide “core” student volunteers to unload truck, stock shelves, service clients, conduct customer service surveys.
  • Agree to the tracking and maintenance of client records with our electronic client data system Link2Feed.
  • Agree the food provided cannot be sold, used for other programs, used at fundraisers, given to staff (unless registered as a client), or used for any other purpose other than to provide food to chronically hungry families.
  • Brick and Mortar Market must commit for 2 years
  • Mobile Market must commit for 1 year.

Interested in having a School Market?
Complete our School Market Interest Form

Need a Market in Your School?
Complete our School Market Application

For questions regarding School Market, please contact:
School Market