(EL PASO INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT – Jun. 5, 2024) — The El Paso ISD Community Schools program, alongside the El Paso High Feeder Pattern and alumni, celebrated the opening of the Wiggs Family Resource Center with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and tour on Monday, June 3.
The Community Schools program now serves El Paso High Feeder Pattern families, offering resources such as food, hygiene products, toiletries, household items and clothing. Additionally, the program connects families with community agencies for further support. Since its opening, the center has been a vital resource, helping 30 to 40 families weekly and providing meals to even more families during the holidays.
The center is housed outside the Wiggs campus. To gain access, families need to acquire a visitor’s pass at the main office which is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and families do not need to make an appointment.
“Our center gives families and students a place to get some of their basic needs met,” said Lisa Guzman, family and community liaison at Wiggs. “We hope our services help students not have to worry about their next meal and allow them to focus on school.”
The El Paso High community, El Paso High School Alumni Association, No Lost Food, Ciudad Nueva, Desert Spoon, Rudolph Automotive, Scorpion Sales and the Libre Initiative are among the biggest community donors to the resource center. Items the center is in currently seeking include city bus passes for students; hygiene/toiletry supplies; cleaning/laundry supplies; men’s work boots; canned goods and food items; kitchen supplies; diapers, formula and wipes; furniture; uniforms; and shoes and clothes.
“Getting the community involved creates stronger families and healthier communities,” Guzman said. “Our vision is to inspire and empower our community members to thrive.”
The El Paso High Feeder Family Resource Center is one of four family resource centers in El Paso ISD. Bowie and Jefferson feeder patterns and Canyon Hills Middle School also provide their communities with these resources.
“Our Community Schools family resource centers collaborate with local organizations to provide supports for students and families that include food banks, hygiene closets, and adult education classes,” said Simon Chandler, assistant director of Community Schools. “These centers play a crucial role in supporting students and families by removing barriers that they may face such as food insecurity access to technology, and language skills.”
For information on donations, email Lisa Guzman at ljguzman@episd.org.
