At its September meeting, the Snyder ISD Board of Trustees received an update on the Snyder Community Resource Center and its continued work to help individuals and families take a step forward.
Snyder Community Resource Center Program Director Jessica Arnold presented an overview of the organization’s programs, partnerships, and regional impact. The center serves Scurry and Mitchell counties and is a longtime friend and partner of Snyder ISD. It was founded by the late former Snyder ISD Board Trustee Steven Peña.
Although its reach extends beyond the school district, the center makes a tremendous impact on Snyder ISD students and families by helping meet immediate needs, connecting people with support, and removing barriers that may affect a student’s ability to learn.
The center’s work includes four primary areas:
iCare: Emergency and basic-needs assistance
Council on Alcohol and Drug Abuse: Addiction resources, referrals, and support
Community Care Initiative: Connection, advocacy, and whole-person support
Snyder Area Naturalization Assistance: Free English as a Second Language classes and citizenship resources
Through these programs, the center may assist residents with food, medication, utilities, transportation, emergency shelter, referrals, advocacy, and connections to other community resources. It also directly supports Snyder ISD students through Blessings in a Bag, the annual Back to School Bash, school-year assistance, and the Steven D. Peña Scholarship.
Blessings in a Bag Supports Snyder ISD Students
Blessings in a Bag provides food for Snyder ISD students who may need additional support outside of school. During the 2025–2026 school year, the program:
Served 138 Snyder ISD students
Provided more than 2,674 food bags and holiday boxes
Supplied 27,632 meals
The process is designed to be confidential, dignified, and focused on the student. When Snyder ISD staff identify a need, the Snyder Community Resource Center provides food for the student to take home.
Back to School Bash Brings the Community Together
The Snyder Community Resource Center also coordinates the annual Back to School Bash, which helps area students and families prepare for the beginning of the school year.
The most recent event supplied 728 students, including 680 Snyder students, and served 302 families. Through the support of 35 community organizations and 1,152 volunteer hours, the event provided more than $44,000 in services.
Support provided during the event included:
339 clothing items
131 immunization verifications
41 haircut vouchers
138 food boxes
The Back to School Bash brings organizations together in one location, allowing families to access several types of assistance during a single event.
A Regional Partner With a Local Impact
The Snyder Community Resource Center serves residents across Scurry and Mitchell counties. Its work begins when someone recognizes that an individual or family needs help. The center then connects that person with programs, organizations, and resources that can address the immediate need and help prevent a barrier from becoming a larger roadblock.
For Snyder ISD, this partnership means students and families have another trusted place to turn when they need support. Snyder ISD appreciates the center’s longstanding commitment to the district and the many businesses, organizations, volunteers, and community members who make this work possible.
For more information, visit: https://www.snydercommunity.org