Beginning in November, Navarro Middle School will begin hosting a twice-a-month school market program on the first and third Tuesday of each month. The Leading Leopard Market, backed by the Houston Food Bank, will be open from 4pm to 7pm. Community members will also be able to visit the market on non-distribution days in the event of an emergency.

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. The Leading Leopard School Market is located on Navarro Middle School Campus and will feature items such as fresh produce, grains, dry beans, meats, and a variety of shelf stable items.

A key feature of the School Markets is that they are staffed by students. These students receive training from the School Market team to perform the various jobs that support the market, such as setting up product for distribution, restocking, and cleaning up the area afterward. 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 Leading Leopard Market at Navarro Middle School is now open with twice-a-month opportunities with dates listed through May 2020. For more information, contact Wraparound Resource Specialist Steven Deutsch at 713-924-1760 or sdeutsch@houstonisd.org.