An email from a science teacher at Geraldine High School has turned into a significant blessing for many students in Alabama facing food insecurity, thanks to billionaire entrepreneur Mark Cuban.

This week, Dr. Renfro took a call from Cuban’s Chief Financial Officer, revealing that Cuban would be donating $10,000 to bolster the student feeding program initiated by Renfro and his team in West Alabama. This unexpected funding will support their efforts throughout the school year.

“Thank God for this wonderful news,” Renfro remarked in an update about the donation.

The contribution ties into Renfro’s ongoing work at the University of West Alabama, where his 2022 doctoral dissertation focused on food insecurity in the Black Belt region of Alabama. His research indicated that students there experience very low food security (VLF) at rates more than 11 times higher than the national average.

In response to this issue, Renfro teamed up with the West Alabama Food Bank and Heather Shambry, the Director of the Sumter County Child Nutrition Program, to launch a “fight and feed hope” initiative. The program provides “secret meals” for students in need over the weekends. What started in 2021 with support for 24 students across three Sumter County Middle Schools has now evolved to assist 72 students each year.

The initiative grew in 2022, expanding into DeKalb County, where Renfro was instrumental in establishing the Bulldog Pantry at Geraldine High School. This pantry, which is supported by Northern Alabama food banks and local contributors, distributes food to families every weekend.

Renfro shared his thoughts on the efforts in both Sumter and DeKalb counties, noting, “These two counties are far apart and have different demographics. But they both face rural hunger and have shown a commitment to helping those in need.”

Thanks to Mark Cuban’s generosity, children involved in the “starvation and nourishment” program will continue to receive vital assistance in the coming year.