Gators Give Back!
This is an important lesson taught and displayed in many ways at all Dickinson ISD schools. However, it is very evident every November when students, parents and teachers join together for the district's annual Stuff the Bus Food Drive to benefit the food pantry at the M.I. Lewis Social Service Center.
For the past 14 years, this long-standing tradition in the Dickinson Independent School District has been teaching important lessons to students while providing needed food and other essentials to families within the Dickinson ISD boundaries.
This food drive is the largest donation the M.I. Lewis Social Service Center receives during the year. The 2014 event starts Monday, October 27 and runs through Thursday, Nov. 6. Campuses will accept donations of non-perishable food items and personal hygiene products. On Friday, Nov. 7, Dickinson High School students and district administrators will board buses to collect the donations from each campus and deliver them to the food pantry.
"This is an incredible way for Dickinson ISD students to give back to the community. You never know who is going hungry and in need of food," said Betty Lessert, M.I. Lewis Executive Director. "Since our facility only serves people residing in the Dickinson ISD boundaries, the donations received could very well be going to your neighbor or someone else you know in need."
M.I. Lewis has been providing assistance to families within the Dickinson ISD boundaries for more than 50 years. The center now serves more than 8,000 individuals each year, representing 25,000 family members.
The donations received during the Stuff the Bus Food Drive supplement the center's regular food pantry donations for up to four months and provide a greater variety of food for the clients. Three years ago, Dickinson ISD expanded the food drive to begin accepting monetary donations. During this time, students, staff and parents have donated more than $20,000 in addition to all the non-perishable food items. Through their partnership with the Galveston County Food Bank, the center can purchase one dollar worth of United States Department of Agriculture subsidized food for only 10 cents. With this buying power, the $20,000 over the past three years has allowed the center to actually purchase $200,000 worth of food.
Through some grant donations, M.I. Lewis recently installed a walk-in refrigerator and freezer at their new location, 215 FM 517 East in Dickinson, which has allowed them to use the monetary donations to purchase greater quantities of perishable items like milk and meat to provide to those needing assistance.
The 2013 food drive brought in $3,800 and approximately 18,000 food items. Through the generosity of students, staff and parents, the district hopes to surpass that total in 2014.
Donations for the Stuff the Bus food drive can be made at any Dickinson ISD campus or the Education Support Center, 2218 FM 517 East in Dickinson through Nov. 6.
The Dickinson High School Gator Marching Band will be competing at UIL Area Marching Band Competition this Saturday, October 25 at the Galena Park ISD Athletic Stadium. The DHS Band is scheduled to perform at 4:15 p.m. at the stadium located at 15025 Wallisville Road. Spectators are enter the stadium from the Evanston traffic light. Admission is $5 per person. 
