Common Ground Network Inc

THE COMMON GROUND NETWORK HAS WORKED TO COORDINATE SERVICES TO THE COMMUNITY. OUR GOAL IS TWOFOLD: 1)PROVIDE ASSISTANCE TO FAMILIES IN NEED. 2)GUARD AGAINST DUPLICATION OF SERVICES WITHIN OUR NETWORK, AS WELL AS DUPLICATON OF SERVICES TO ANY ONE FAMILY

THE FEED THE KIDS PROGRAM IS A YEAR ROUND PROGRAM THAT PARTNERS WITH LOCAL FOOD PANTRIES AND CHURCHES, IN ORDER TO GET FOOD INTO THE HANDS OF FAMILIES THAT NEED ASSISTANCE. THE PROGRAMS ARE FUNDED THROUGH COMMON GROUND MEMBERS, CIVIC ORGANIZATIONS, MANY LOCAL BUSINESSES AND PRIVATE CITIZENS. FEED THE KIDS FOR SUMMER PROVIDES BAGS FILLED WITH NUTRITIOUS CHILD FRIENDLY FOODS TO CHILDREN IN THE MANSFIELD ISD WHO QUALIFY THROUGH THE FREE AND REDUCED MEAL PROGRAM DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR. THIS ALLOWS CHILDREN TO PREPARE THEIR OWN MEALS DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS WHILE THEIR PARENTS ARE AWAY FROM HOME WORKING. FEEDING APPROXIMATELY 1000-1025 CHILDREN PER WEEK AT FOOD PANTRIES ACROSS THE SCHOOL DISTRICT.

FEED THE KIDS BACKPACK PROGRAM DISTRIBUTES BAGS OF FOOD TO MISD SCHOOLS THAT HAVE IDENTIFIED CHILDREN WHO ARE AT RISK OF NOT RECEIVING MEALS OVER THE WEEKEND DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR. COMMON GROUND MEMBERS MAINTAIN RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE SCHOOLS TO ENSURE EVERY CHILD COMES TO SCHOOL ON MONDAY MORNING READY TO LEARN. THE WEEKEND BACKPACK PROGRAM OPERATES DURING REGULAR 33 WEEKS A SCHOOL YEAR AND FEEDS APPROXIMATELY 425 CHILDREN PER WEEK.

EACH SUMMER COMMON GROUND NETWORK RAISES MONEY WITH COMMUNITY DONATIONS TO STOCK FOOD PANTRY TO PROVIDE HEALTHY SNACKS FOR CHILDREN IN THE MANSFIELD ISD FREE AND REDUCED LUNCH PROGRAM.

CHRISTMAS ASSISTANCE PROGRAM EACH YEAR A NETWORK OF CHURCHES AND CIVIC GROUPS "ADOPT" GROUPS OF CHILDREN THAT PROVIDE GIFTS AND CLOTHING TO EACH CHILD IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT IS IN NEED. THE COMMON GROUND NETWORK INC. QUALIFIES FAMILIES THROUGH AN APPLICATION PROCESS IN OCTOBER THAT IS PROMOTED WITHIN MANSFIELD ISD. ONCE FAMILIES HAVE BEEN APPROVED, THEIR INFORMATION IS DISTRIBUTED TO CHURCHES AND ORGANIZATIONS THAT PROVIDE THE NEEDS FOR THE FAMILY DURING THE MONTH OF DECEMBER. EACH PROGRAM IS SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT BUT EVERY FAMILY IS SURE TO FEEL THE HOLIDAY SPIRIT. SCHOOL SUPPLIES EACH FALL COMMON GROUND NETWORK, INC. PARTNERS WITH THE MANSFIELD ISD IN PROVIDING THOUSANDS OF PENCILS, FOLDERS, GLUE STICKS AND MORE TO FAMILIES IN THE COMMUNITY WHO WOULD OTHERWISE STRUGGLE TO PROVIDE THEIR STUDENTS WITH NECESSARY SCHOOL SUPPLIES. HUNDREDS OF VOLUNTEERS ARE NEEDED TO MAKE THIS EVENT A SUCCESS AND THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS ARE NEEDED TO PROVIDE THE SUPPLIES. DISTRIBUTION IS THE SECOND SATURDAY OF AUGUST AND IS HOSTED AT THE MANSFIELD ISD BACK TO SCHOOL BASH.