Tarrant Area Food Bank West and Weatherford ISD Celebrate Ribbon Cutting for New Ready to Learn™ In-School Market at Ikard Elementary

For Immediate Release: 04/21/2025

[Weatherford, TX] – April 21, 2025 – Tarrant Area Food Bank West (TAFB West) and Weatherford ISD celebrated the grand opening of the RooMarket, a new Ready to Learn™ in-school market at Ikard Elementary, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Monday, April 21. The market is designed to support students and families with consistent access to fresh, nutritious food in a trusted and familiar school setting.

This initiative was made possible through the generous contributions of Tarrant Area Food Bank’s donors, whose support continues to drive the success of the Ready to Learn™ initiative. Furnished with coolers, shelving, and stocked with fresh produce, shelf-stable goods, and kid-friendly food items, the RooMarket offers a dignified, convenient, and essential resource for families within the school community.

The event marked the latest milestone in TAFB’s Ready to Learn™ initiative, which expands access to nutritious food and youth-focused nutrition education across the region. By bringing food directly into schools, the initiative helps ensure students have what they need to thrive, beginning with the most important school supply: food. Ready to Learn™ also provides critical support to families experiencing food insecurity.

TAFB launched the Ready to Learn™ initiative in 2021 to address the needs of the 1 in 4 children facing hunger across its 13-county service area. By expanding access to nutritious food and offering youth nutrition education and resources, the initiative ensures school-aged children are prepared to succeed in the classroom and beyond. The new RooMarket at Ikard Elementary reflects TAFB’s commitment to building healthier, hunger-free communities.

“Food is foundational to learning,” said Julie Butner, President & CEO of Tarrant Area Food Bank. “We’re proud to partner with Weatherford ISD to ensure that students at Ikard Elementary have access to nutritious food right on campus. When students are nourished, they’re better equipped to learn and succeed.”

“We are honored to partner with Tarrant Area Food Bank West to open the RooMarket,” said Dr. Beau Rees, Superintendent at Weatherford ISD. “This partnership allows us to support our students by addressing one of the most essential needs—nutrition.”

TAFB West, which serves Parker, Palo Pinto, Hood, Erath, Bosque, Somervell, and Hamilton Counties, is committed to expanding food access and improving health across its region. The RooMarket joins a growing network of over 100 Ready to Learn™ school markets supported by TAFB and its community partners.

“This market is an investment in our children, our schools, and our community,” said Butner. “We are grateful to Weatherford ISD for their partnership and to our generous private donors for making this work possible.”

To learn more about the Ready to Learn™ initiative or to support hunger relief efforts across TAFB’s service area, visit tafb.org.

TARRANT AREA FOOD BANK (TAFB): One of the largest charitable organizations in its 13-county service area, TAFB provides over 1 million nutritious meals weekly and food & nutrition education programs to those facing hunger through its network of 400+ partner agencies, volunteers, and donors. As a member of Feeding America, TAFB empowers communities to alleviate hunger and improve health. For more information, visit www.tafb.org.

TARRANT AREA FOOD BANK North (TAFB West): Based in Weatherford, Texas, TAFB West is the regional branch of Tarrant Area Food Bank, serving Parker, Hood, Erath, Palo Pinto, Hamilton, Bosque, and Somervell Counties. Through its network of local partner agencies, dedicated volunteers, and food assistance programs, TAFB West ensures access to nutritious meals and essential resources for those facing hunger. This branch supports TAFB’s mission to alleviate hunger and improve health in the communities it serves. For more information, visit www.tafb.org/west.

TARRANT AREA FOOD BANK’S READY TO LEARNTM INITIATIVE: Tarrant Area Food Bank’s Ready to LearnTM Initiative alleviates childhood and college hunger by linking nutrition and education. Partnering with schools, colleges, and local agencies, the initiative provides meals, youth programs, and resources to help students thrive. Key efforts include expanding in-school markets, offering youth nutrition education, and establishing the Ready to LearnTM Community Resource Center at TAFB’s Fort Worth headquarters. This center will feature a community market, cooking and nutrition classes, a children’s learning garden, and other services addressing the root causes of hunger. Ready to LearnTM embodies TAFB’s dedication to health and hunger relief across its 13-county service area. Learn more at www.tafb.org/ready-to-learn.

Weatherford Independent School District (WISD) is a public school district located approximately 20 miles west of Fort Worth in Weatherford, Texas. The district’s mission is to educate, engage, and empower all students in a safe and positive learning environment to discover and reach their greatest potential.​ WISD serves the city of Weatherford, most of Hudson Oaks, and parts of Willow Park and Annetta North. Weatherford ISD encompasses 11 schools, including Weatherford High School, a Ninth Grade Center, two middle schools, and seven elementary schools. The district serves approximately 8,200 students.