Peterbilt contributes $25,000 to Tarrant Area Food Bank to support opening a Ready to Learn™ In-School Market for Denton ISD students and families.
Tarrant Area Food Bank (TAFB), in partnership with Peterbilt and Denton ISD, celebrated the opening of its 98th Ready to Learn™ in-school market at Ryan High School on Thursday, November 14. This initiative was made possible through a generous $25,000 contribution from Peterbilt, which will support the market’s establishment and operations for the first year. Furnished with coolers, shelving, and stocked with nutritious food, this market offers families within the school community a convenient and essential resource.
TAFB launched the Ready to Learn™ initiative in 2021 to address the needs of the 1 in 4 children facing hunger across its 13-county service area. By increasing access to nutritious food and critical nutrition resources, Ready to Learn™ helps ensure that school-aged children are prepared to succeed in the classroom and beyond. Through this collaboration, families in Denton ISD now have easier access to healthy, nutritious food to support their household needs.
“We are grateful to partner with the Tarrant Area Food Bank to help address food insecurities, and we are also especially grateful for Peterbilt, which has been a longtime supporter of Denton ISD,” said Dr. Susannah O’Bara, Denton ISD Superintendent of Schools. “Through Peterbilt’s generous donation and the Tarrant Area Food Bank’s support, we are hopeful this food market will help alleviate some of stress and burden our families are experiencing.”
With this addition, TAFB now supports 98 in-school markets across its service area, with plans to reach 100 markets by year-end. This expansion ensures children have access to the most essential school supply: food.
“At Tarrant Area Food Bank, we support children and families facing hunger year-round, but the need becomes even more pressing during school vacations, like the upcoming holiday season, when children lack access to school nutrition programs,” said TAFB President & CEO Julie Butner. “The Ready to Learn™ in-school markets reduce childhood hunger by providing students and their families with consistent access to nutritious meals. We are deeply grateful to Peterbilt, Denton ISD, and the Denton County community for helping us advance this initiative.”
Since becoming a TAFB supporter in 2023, Peterbilt has donated a total of $29,300, with this year marking the first time they have supported a school-focused program. The Ready to Learn™ in-school markets provide families with fresh food at a location that’s both accessible and convenient, helping children stay nourished and focused on learning.
“Thanks to Peterbilt’s generosity, TAFB can help ensure that the more than 34,000 children facing hunger in Denton County have access to the food they need,” said Butner. “With the collective support of our community, we are making meaningful progress in tackling hunger throughout Denton County. We are incredibly grateful for partners like Peterbilt, whose dedication furthers our mission to alleviate hunger and improve health across North Texas.”
As the holiday season nears, TAFB is committed to ensuring that no child or family in Denton County goes without a nutritious meal through the ongoing work of TAFB North, its satellite branch that serves Denton County, Cooke County, and Wise County.
