What began as one Paris High School student’s idea to reduce food waste and help students in need is growing across Paris ISD.
Paris High School student Mary Grace Gibbons recently helped bring a second “Mr. Marvin’s Market” community refrigerator to Paris ISD, this time at Justiss Elementary School.
The new refrigerator marks the next step in an initiative Mary Grace hopes will eventually reach even more campuses throughout the district.
Mary Grace created Mr. Marvin’s Market after being inspired by former Paris ISD cafeteria employee Marvin Wroten. Mr. Marvin had noticed two things happening at the same time—students who were still hungry and unopened food being discarded.
His original “shared table” gave students an opportunity to leave unwanted, unopened items for another student
who might need them.
When refrigeration requirements made it difficult to continue the concept, Mary Grace saw an opportunity to build upon his idea.
Her solution was a community refrigerator where approved, unopened cafeteria items can be safely stored and
made available to students who may need additional food.
The first Mr. Marvin’s Market was established at Paris High School after Mary Grace secured funding and worked with district staff and community supporters like Mark Homer and Mandeep Chatha-Homer with Sonic Drive-In to bring the project to life.
Now, that vision has expanded to Justiss Elementary, making it the second Mr. Marvin’s Market in Paris ISD—and, hopefully, one of many more to come.
Mary Grace visited Justiss Elementary during the campus Wildcat Assembly to introduce the refrigerator and talk with students about the meaning behind Mr. Marvin’s Market.
She shared the story of Mr. Marvin, explained why she started the project, and encouraged the younger Wildcats to understand that something as simple as sharing what you do not need can make a difference for someone else.
The expansion comes just months after Mary Grace received statewide recognition for her service. She was one of only 15 students across Texas selected as a 2026 Texas State Board of Education Student Hero after being nominated by Paris ISD Superintendent Althea Dixon.
She was recognized by the State Board of Education in June for her leadership and commitment to serving others through Mr. Marvin’s Market.
“Watching Mary Grace take an idea and turn it into something that continues to grow is incredibly special,” said Paris ISD Superintendent Althea Dixon. “She is showing our younger students that you do not have to wait until you are an adult to make a difference. One student saw a need, chose to act, and is now inspiring others across our district to do the same.”
While the addition of a second refrigerator is an important milestone, Mary Grace’s vision for Mr. Marvin’s Market does not end at Justiss. The hope is to continue expanding the initiative so that more Paris ISD students have access to this resource while reducing the amount of unopened food that goes to waste.
From one shared table to one refrigerator—and now two—Mr. Marvin’s simple desire to make sure students had enough to eat continues through the compassion and leadership of a Paris High School Wildcat determined to carry his legacy forward.
