Fort Worth initiative expands efforts to fight childhood hunger with new grant for local school market
Fort Worth, Texas – In a significant step to combat food insecurity among students and families in Fort Worth, Mayor Mattie Parker announced a $15,000 grant to support the Chaparral THRIVE Market at O.D. Wyatt High School. The funding will allow the program to expand its reach and serve more families within the surrounding community, addressing growing concerns over childhood hunger and lack of access to nutritious food.
Strengthening Community Through Food Access
Mayor Parker, who currently serves as the 2025 chair of the Mayors Alliance to End Childhood Hunger, championed the funding as part of her broader efforts to bring local and national attention to the issue of food insecurity. The grant was approved by the Fort Worth City Council and awarded through the No Kid Hungry Campaign, a national initiative led by Share Our Strength in partnership with the Mayors Alliance.
“We must ensure our students and families in need have access to nutritious food — this is absolutely foundational for the success of our young people,” said Parker. “I joined the Mayors Alliance to End Childhood Hunger because mayors across the country are working together to solve this complex issue. I’m grateful for the generous grant and happy to partner with Fort Worth ISD and THRIVE Market as we continue the fight against food insecurity in Fort Worth.”
The Chaparral THRIVE Market (Together Harnessing Resources to Give Individuals Voice and Empowerment) was established in January 2024 with initial backing from Texas Health Resources and Aetna. Located in the 76119 ZIP code — a federally identified food desert — the market provides free dry and refrigerated groceries along with hygiene products to students and their families. Food deserts are areas where access to fresh, nutritious food is severely limited, and the market’s location directly supports some of the city’s most underserved communities.
Expanding a Critical Resource
Since its opening, the THRIVE Market has helped serve over 140 families, distributing nearly 14,000 pounds of food annually. With the new $15,000 grant, the school’s market will expand its services beyond current boundaries to reach families throughout the O.D. Wyatt High School pyramid, allowing more students and households to benefit from consistent access to essential resources.
FWISD Superintendent Dr. Karen Molinar emphasized the importance of this partnership in addressing multiple aspects of student development.
“The partnership with the Mayors Alliance to End Childhood Hunger enables our district to strategically address food insecurities that impact not only students’ health but also their academic performance and social-emotional well-being,” Molinar said. “This collaboration reflects our shared commitment to supporting the whole child, both inside and outside the classroom. Together, we’re building a foundation of care, dignity and opportunity for every family we serve.”
Collaborating for a Hunger-Free Future
The Mayors Alliance to End Childhood Hunger was formed in 2022 to unify local leaders across the nation to advance policy and partnership solutions that ensure all children have access to nutritious food. Mayor Parker’s leadership as the current chair underscores her ongoing commitment to tackling food insecurity on both local and national levels.
“This grant to the O.D. Wyatt High School’s Chaparral THRIVE Market exemplifies the power of community partnerships in combating food insecurity,” stated a representative from the Mayors Alliance. “By supporting local initiatives like the THRIVE Market, we can ensure that more children and families have access to nutritious food, setting them up for success in school and life. We are proud to work with Mayor Parker and the Mayors Alliance to End Childhood Hunger to ensure that no kid goes hungry in Texas.”
As the program expands and more families gain access to reliable food support, Fort Worth continues to lead by example in the national effort to eliminate childhood hunger and build stronger, healthier communities.
