A grocery store established and based inside a school in Texas is completely unique in that instead of cash it accepts 'good deeds' as payment.
Linda Tutt High School in Sanger, Texas, is situated in an area of the country where 43% of the 2,750 students enrolled in the school district are classed as 'economically disadvantaged'. It is therefore hoped that the new payment mechanism will alleviate some of the issues facing the students and their families.
Students earn points, which can be exchanged for groceries, by getting good grades, carrying out good deeds, and completing work around campus.
School principal, Anthony Love, said of the set-up:
"A lot of our students, they come from low socioeconomic families. It's a way for students to earn the ability to shop for their families. Through hard work you can earn points for positive office referrals. You can earn points for doing chores around the building or helping to clean."
"We are a small school district but we always try to teach our kids the importance of giving back to the community. Now school districts all around Texas and the rest of the country are asking how they can start a program like ours, and it's really exciting for us to know our little town is spreading good."
It was the First Refuge Ministries, Albertsons, and Texas Health Resources that first put the idea forward to the school district as a means to help struggling students. They hope that not only will the project help students and their families materially but that it will also help students gain a strong work ethic that will equip them well for their later adult lives.
Preston Westbrook, a junior at the high school, told CNN:
"I love this school, I help out in everything we do. And I'm a helper, it's just what I do. I'm here to make sure students get what they need. The store helped bring families' spirits up during the pandemic, especially for people who lost family members. The students who come in are just so happy, they always have a smile on their face."
While support for the project has been strong, others have questioned why in one of the richest countries in the world, students are being forced to work in order to put food on the family table, and why their parents are not paid enough, or given employment opportunities in the first place.
[Based on reporting by: Positive Outlooks]
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