HISD Transportation Services has donated the use of four 20-foot school buses at West University Elementary School to help collect food donations for this year’s Souper Bowl of Caring.

“It’s really exciting to load the bus and help others,” 8-year-old Conrad Clingenpeel said. “I had fun looking for all the things people like to eat.”

Transportation Services General Manager John Wilcots IV said the campus and community have been collecting food donations daily so that bus drivers can transport the items to HISD Nutrition Services for distribution to campus emergency food pantries.

“This is just another way that HISD innovates through a shared vision of support for students and the communities we serve,” Wilcots said. “We are pleased to be participating again.”

Souper Bowl of Caring is a youth-led, national food drive that mobilizes thousands of young people to fight hunger and poverty in their communities.

Last year, HISD Community Partnerships helped launch 52 emergency campus food pantries through Souper Bowl of Caring donations, which provided 26,000 meals with that assistance for students and families.

“There is a long tradition here of service to the community, especially Souper Bowl of Caring,” West University Elementary School Principal Scott Disch said.

He said that because of the pandemic last year, they collected funds, but this year the students are eager to donate food items again.

“I want to thank Community Relations and HISD Transportation Services for coordinating the buses,” Disch said. “We are working on filling a fifth bus to help fellow students.”

The buses have allowed the more than 1,100 students attending the school to rally the community.

“I’ve been doing this every year since Kindergarten,” second-grader Avery Berkman said. “I’m really happy to go to the store with my mom and get food for people who need it.”

For more information on the Souper Bowl of Caring 2022, visit Souper Bowl 2022.