What began as one Paris High School student’s mission to reduce food waste and help fellow students continues to grow, thanks to the generosity of community partners who share her passion for helping others.
Paris High School student Mary Grace Gibbons recently celebrated the installation of the fifth Mr. Marvin’s Market community refrigerator in Paris ISD, this time at Crockett Intermediate School. The newest addition was made possible through the generosity of the Downtown Food Pantry, an organization with a special connection to the man who inspired the project.
Mr. Marvin’s Market was created by Gibbons in honor of former Paris ISD cafeteria employee Marvin Wroten, affectionately known as “Mr. Marvin.” During his time working in the Paris High School cafeteria, Wroten noticed that while some students were still hungry after lunch, unopened food was being thrown away. He introduced the idea of a shared table, allowing students to leave unopened items for others who might need additional food. However, challenges with keeping perishable items refrigerated eventually brought the concept to an end.
Inspired by his compassion, Gibbons developed a solution that would allow his vision to continue. Mr. Marvin’s Market provides a refrigerator where students can place approved, unopened cafeteria items, such as milk, juice, and fruit, making them available to other students who may need a little extra food during the school day.
The initiative began at Paris High School and has since expanded to Justiss Elementary, Aikin Elementary, Paris Junior High, and now Crockett Intermediate.
While previous refrigerators were made possible through the support of other community partners, the newest addition at Crockett Intermediate carries an especially meaningful connection. Wroten has been a dedicated supporter of the Downtown Food Pantry, and the organization wanted to honor his commitment to helping others by supporting the project created in his name.
“Marvin Wroten has always had a heart for helping others, and he has been a tremendous supporter of the Downtown Food Pantry,” said Allan Hubbard, Executive Director of the Downtown Food Pantry. “When we learned about Mary Grace’s project and how she was carrying on Mr. Marvin’s vision, we wanted to be part of it. Helping provide this refrigerator at Crockett Intermediate is a way for us to honor someone who has given so much to our community while making sure more children have access to food when they need it. We are excited to see this initiative continue to grow, not only in Paris ISD but in neighboring school districts as well.”
Gibbons, who was recognized earlier this year as one of only 15 recipients of the 2026 Texas State Board of Education Student Heroes Award, continues to demonstrate how one student’s compassion and determination can inspire meaningful change throughout an entire community.
From one shared table to five refrigerators across Paris ISD, Mr. Marvin’s simple desire to make sure students have enough to eat continues to inspire others. With the support of Mary Grace, the Downtown Food Pantry, and generous community partners, his legacy of kindness is reaching more students than ever before.
And with plans to expand beyond Paris ISD, Mr. Marvin’s Market is proving that one small act of kindness can grow into something much bigger.
