This December, Gatesville Independent School District’s Stinger Stash Market, a school food pantry in Coryell County, celebrated its one-year anniversary. In just twelve months, this school-based food market has quietly filled hundreds of tables across the district, making itself known as a dependable source of nutritious food for students, families, and staff.
For Michelle Martin, Community Outreach for Gatesville ISD, the need was clear long before the market opened.
“You drive through Gatesville and it looks like this charming little Texas town,” Martin said. “But you get off the main street and you go into homes where people may not have heat, running water, or food in their cabinets.”
Before Stinger Stash existed, Martin often encountered families in crisis while conducting home visits related to her work with the truancy program.
“I’d have moms come in and say, ‘It’s the 10th of the month and we’re already out of food. Is there anywhere I can get help?’” she recalled. “It’s everywhere. You just have to look for it.”
From a Big Idea to a Trusted Resource for Food Access in Gatesville
Prior to the market’s launch, food access in Gatesville was limited. One pantry served families once a month, while other efforts relied heavily on word of mouth and neighbors helping neighbors. For many families, support depended on who they knew — or whether they felt comfortable asking.
That changed when Gatesville ISD opened Stinger Stash in December 2024. The response exceeded every expectation.
“I [first thought], ‘It’s probably going to take us a year to serve 500 people,’” Martin laughed. “By the third month, we were already doing 800 visits.”
Today, the market is open twice a week, providing families with the consistency they can count on. Last month alone, Stinger Stash recorded more than 1,500 visits.
“It really made us realize just how much the need was here in Gatesville,” Martin said. “It’s been eye-opening, humbling — and honestly, such a blessing.”
A Choice-Based Food Market Built on Dignity
Unlike traditional food pantries, Stinger Stash operates as a market. Families shop the shelves, choose items they’ll actually use, and leave with full carts.
“I wish you could see people’s faces when they walk in,” Martin said. “They think it’s going to be rice, beans, and canned food. Then we say, ‘No, we have fresh milk, strawberries, apples, potatoes, and meat.’ Sometimes it’s chicken, sometimes ground beef, and one week we even had ribs.”
She added, “Their faces just light up.”
This choice-based model ensures families aren’t taking food they won’t eat — and helps restore a sense of normalcy.
“If they don’t want something, they don’t have to take it,” Martin said. “But most of the time, everyone leaves with a full cart.”
Reducing Barriers, Strengthening Community
Superintendent Barrett Pollard remembers when the idea was first brought to him.
“I was excited,” Pollard said. “But I also knew it was going to be a big undertaking. We wanted to make sure we did it right.”
Housing the market on a school campus was intentional.
“It really removes barriers,” Pollard explained. “Instead of going somewhere unfamiliar, people can come right into a school building. They know when shipments arrive. They know who to talk to.”
He said what started as a resource for staff has grown steadily, “We initially wanted to make sure there wasn’t a stigma. It wasn’t about being totally indigent — it was about helping our employees, our retired staff, and then our families. And it’s just continued to grow.”
Staff have shared tangible impacts.
“I’ve heard employees say, ‘This reduced our food bill by this much each month,’” Pollard said. “It’s almost like an employee benefit. If it went away, people would really feel it.”
Students at the Heart of the Market
Students are a driving force behind Stinger Stash’s success. From stocking shelves to assisting shoppers, they help make the market welcoming and efficient.
Senior Jasleen Fuentes volunteers regularly, assisting families, translating for Spanish-speaking neighbors, and helping maintain fresh food inventory.
“It means a lot,” Fuentes said. “I get to meet new people, meet little kids, and hear their stories.”
She’s also seen firsthand how the market supports families like her own.
“We’re a small town. We don’t have many businesses, and people struggle,” she said. “This pantry really helps.”
As part of Gatesville ISD’s culinary program, students also help families learn how to use the food they receive.
“People think food pantries are just canned goods,” Fuentes said. “But here, they can choose eggs, milk, meat—like a real grocery store.”
She added, “I’ve helped make sausages from ground pork using pantry ingredients. It feels wonderful to show people what they can make from what they take home.”
Powered by Partnership with Central Texas Food Bank
Stinger Stash would not be possible without its partnership with the Central Texas Food Bank.
“Without the food bank, this would not happen,” Martin said. “They are our only consistent source of food.”
From truck drivers and warehouse teams to staff answering last-minute calls, the impact of that partnership is felt weekly.
“It restores my faith in humanity,” Martin shared. “It shows that someone truly cares — and that they’re willing to show it in a tangible way.”
Pollard echoed that appreciation.
“I’m impressed by the amount and variety of food that comes in,” he said. “Especially protein — it’s so expensive in stores, and that really helps families.”
To learn more about the Gatesville ISD’s Stinger Stash Food Market, including hours and eligibility, visit the Gatesville ISD website.
Looking Ahead
After one year, Stinger Stash Market has become far more than a food resource. It’s a place where students gain real-world experience, volunteers find purpose, and families feel seen and supported.
“To our donors,” Martin said, “thank you from my heart. You may not realize what your donation does — but come to the pantry, and I’ll show you.”
Through partnership, compassion, and community commitment, Stinger Stash Market is making tomorrow possible — one full cart at a time.
