Red Basket Program - Hungry Students + Snacks = Boosted Brain Power
Aug 13, 2020
Karen Lanman, Amy Couvillon
Red Basket Program - Hungry Students + Snacks = Boosted Brain Power

This program started in Carrollton-Farmers Branch Independent School District with the goal of getting snacks into the mouths of hungry high school students. The rate of economically disadvantaged families is increasing every year and many students don’t have access to breakfast. Programs are in place, but as students reach high school, it becomes more difficult for them to participate.

To help combat this problem, red baskets filled with granola bars, protein bars, breakfast bars, goldfish, and peanut butter crackers are placed in every classroom and students have access to these snacks in the mornings (during tutorials) and at the teacher’s discretion throughout the day.

Founder Karen Lanman shares more: "We implemented The Red Basket Program at Newman Smith High School in March, 2018, and with generous donations we were able to expand into Early College and two other CFBISD High Schools in August, 2018. Because we are supplied completely by donations, in August 2019, we did not have enough snacks to fill all the high schools. Knowing we had a program that lots of community members would believe in supporting, we put our focus on getting our tax exempt status. With the help of some great people, we achieved our 501(c)(3) in record time and became a recognized Non-Profit in October of 2019."