Back to School

By Nisie

July 30, 2026

The heat is on, but for students in Fort Worth, summer is over. No more vacations, backyard BBQs, cruises, amusement parks, or late nights with friends. Some students are ready for the new school year, with fresh school supplies and brand-new clothes. Other students may have had a less exciting summer, but were able to get the new clothes they wanted and the supplies they needed for the new year. But some students faced very hard circumstances, no vacations or BBQs. Instead, they spent their summer at home, with hardly any entertainment, and barely enough food to survive on. The realities of some students in Fort Worth are far harsher than you might realize. Right now, Texas leads the nation in hunger; 1 in 4 children in DFW face food insecurity. And in 2024, Fort Worth ISD stopped providing free school supplies to elementary students due to budget cuts. Children in Fort Worth are lacking the support they need to succeed in school.

                 According to the North Texas Food Bank (NTFB) and Tarrant Area Food Bank (TAFB), which cited Feeding America's latest Map the Meal Gap study, Texas has a food insecurity rate of 19.4%, with 6.06 million people facing hunger. Those numbers highlight a major increase from 17.6% and 5.4 million the year before. North Texas food banks are on the brink as more families seek assistance amid steadily rising prices for necessities. Paired with the need for school supplies, parents with multiple children are facing many challenges in getting their kids ready for the new year. According to Deloitte's 2025 Back-to-School Survey, parents in DFW are spending 32% more on average than parents of other students across Texas. The bills are piling high. 

                 You can help. Every year, LULAC Council 4568, with Amigos 4 Progress and Hola Texas, joins Unity One Bank in Fort Worth for their Back to School event. This event is crucial for hundreds of students in Fort Worth to get the school supplies they need to have a successful school year. Amigos 4 Progress will host the “Fiesta de Libros” booth, where they will provide free books and school supplies to students. Every year, the kids are excited for their new books. 

If you feel it in your heart to help these students, please follow the link or scan the QR code below to donate today. 

https://givebutter.com/fiesta-de-libros-sjrmvp

Refrences

(May 13, 2024). Texas Leads the Nation in Hunger; DFW Ranks Third Among U.S. Metro Areas. North Texas Food Bank. https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2024/05/14/2882530/32859/en/Texas-Tops-Nation-in-Hunger-Crisis-North-Texas-Food-Bank-Serves-Fourth-Largest-Area-According-to-New-Feeding-America-Study.html

US, D.

(July 9, 2025). Deloitte: Spending Stays Put - Parents Hold Firm on Back-to-School Budgets – Press Release. Deloitte. https://www.deloitte.com/us/en/about/press-room/deloitte-2025-back-to-school-survey.html