TYLER, Texas — Two Tyler ISD high schools are coming together to help raise meals for hungry East Texans for the 34th annual Pantry Raid.
Tyler Legacy High School and Tyler High School have held the pantry raid since 1991, raising over 1.7 million meals for the East Texas Food Bank.
“The Tyler Pantry Raid is a great way for students to bring awareness to the one in six East Texans including one in four children who are food insecure,” said David Emerson, CEO of the East Texas Food Bank. “Many student’s families depend on the ETFB BackPack program to help fill the weekend hunger gap and this fundraiser is something we depend on and look forward to each year.”
In 2023, the students brought in enough donations to provide 144,545 meals. The high schoolers will be collecting food and funds over the next two weeks. Money donations will go toward the food bank's BackPack Program.
Through the BackPack Program, families are able to pick up a backpack of food with various meals and snacks to help kids who may suffer from food insecurity after school or on weekends.
Results from the Pantry Raid will be announced at halftime during the annual Tyler Legacy and Tyler High football game on Friday, Sept. 6, at Christus Trinity Mother Frances Rose Stadium. Donations can be made at tylerpantryraid.com.
“Tyler ISD enjoys participating each year in the Pantry Raid and helping to fight hunger in East Texas,” Tyler ISD Chief Communications Officer Jennifer Hines said. “Our students learn how their efforts can make a huge impact in our community and assist their peers who are facing hunger.”