Melissa ISD food drive starts Monday for two local pantries, ending with a 'Fill the Bus' collection at the Nov. 6 game

Melissa ISD is asking students, staff and neighbors to stock two local food pantries over the next two weeks, with a districtwide food drive running Monday, Oct. 26, through Friday, Nov. 6.

Inside schools, the drive works classroom by classroom. Students are asked to "Fill the Red Bag" with non-perishable food, and student groups on each campus will lead the push, the district said in an announcement posted Wednesday.

Everything collected stays in Melissa. The district says donations will support families through the First Melissa Christmas Angel Program and the Melissa Community Outreach Food Pantry.

A collection at the stadium on Nov. 6

People without a student in the district can take part on the last day. Fans going to the Melissa Cardinals' varsity football game on Friday, Nov. 6, are encouraged to bring unexpired, non-perishable food to help "Fill the Bus."

What to bring

The district's suggested list:

Dry pasta and rice
Oatmeal and cereal
Peanut butter and jelly
Canned vegetables and beans
Canned soup and creamed soup
Canned meat
Macaroni and cheese
Hamburger Helper

The announcement does not set a collection goal or list drop-off points outside the classrooms and the Nov. 6 game.

Sources

melissaisd.org

North Texas water planners rehire their consultant and open work on the 2031 regional plan

The Region C Water Planning Group, which covers Collin County, kept Freese & Nichols, reelected its chair and heard the timeline for new population and demand projections due by April 2028.

Gwen LindgrenOctober 21, 20262 min read

Melissa

Long Ranch's 720-home plan faces annexation and zoning hearings at council Oct. 27, alongside a Bloomfield Homes deal

Council members hold hearings on annexing and zoning 180.72 acres at County Roads 413 and 471. The agenda also asks them to approve a Chapter 380 agreement with Bloomfield Homes whose terms are not posted.

Dexter LindgrenOctober 21, 20262 min read

Melissa

Red Ribbon Week dress-up days, a free middle school band concert and cross country regionals fill Melissa ISD's next week

Elementary campuses mark Red Ribbon Week Oct. 26-30, East Cardinal's band plays a free fall concert Oct. 26, and all 13 Melissa High cross country qualifiers run at regionals Oct. 27.

Gwen LindgrenOctober 20, 20261 min read

After video showed a trooper messaging ICE on Signal, a DPS commander told chiefs to keep police chats on approved apps

Emails obtained by KPRC 2 show the order went out within days of the footage airing. The commander warned that outside apps on personal phones can open those devices to public records requests.

Gwen LindgrenOctober 18, 20262 min read

Texas

Abbott has renewed his border disaster declaration at least 69 times, including 21 under Trump, as crossings fall

The 2021 proclamation still lets state agencies skip competitive bidding; DPS and the Texas Military Department have cited it for more than $5 million in contracts since January 2025. Abbott's office says the work is not finished.

Gwen LindgrenOctober 15, 20262 min read