52 Faces: Patty Pressley stocks Fort Worth schools with food, clothing and financial aid

Walking through the halls of Western Hills High School, students peered out of classrooms just to greet Patty Pressley. One of them thanked her when she told the student she bought him the socks he needed. 

Four days a week, Pressley runs the nonprofit Cougar Pride Alliance at the high school, her alma mater, to ensure students have basic essentials like food, clothing and personal hygiene supplies. 

The nonprofit sprang out of calls from the community in 2017 to support children in need. Pressley’s 35th high school reunion helped kick-start the alliance, where several fellow alumni donated clothes and food to go to the high school’s students. 

“We kind of made that our thing. We had no plan or no mission on what we were going to do at all,” said Pressley. “We just knew that we would need to get our 501(c)(3) if anybody was going to take us seriously.” 

When the nonprofit officially organized in October 2017, Pressley and volunteers primarily focused on providing snacks and clothing to students in need, particularly those experiencing poverty-related hardships. 

Those essentials have included shoes and coats, the nonprofit’s effort to ensure every child has warm clothing for the colder months.

Pressley’s contributions to students at Western Hills High School and the greater western Fort Worth area earned her recognition in the Fort Worth Report’s weekly 52 Faces of Community series, highlighting Fort Worth and Tarrant County’s unsung heroes.

“She has her ear to the ground with teachers, with the administration, and then finds out where things are falling through the cracks, basically. And she helps with that,” said June Naylor Harris, Pressley’s longtime friend and nominator. 

Welcome to 52 Faces

52 Faces of Community is a Fort Worth Report weekly series spotlighting local unsung heroes. It is sponsored by Central Market, H-E-B and JPS Health Network.

At the end of the year, these rarely recognized heroes will gather for a luncheon where the Report will announce one honoree to represent Tarrant County at the Jefferson Awards in Washington, D.C.

By winter 2017, the alliance was able to put together meals and “food bags” for children who rely on the school to eat three meals a day.

While the nonprofit provides food four days out of the week, Pressley and volunteers prepare meals for students to pick up during sporting events and when they are dismissed for winter, spring and summer breaks. Volunteers also deliver food and supplies to students and teachers at Western Hills High’s feeder schools.

“They’ll tell us how many (food bags) they might need and we make sure that they get that number,” said Pressley.

The alliance continues to provide food and meals for students to take home but, as the nonprofit grows, Cougar Pride also works to financially support students who want to join sports teams and participate in other school activities. 

Volunteers have helped students cover the expenses to attend their prom. The group coordinates with students, parents and teachers if additional items, such as uniforms and school supplies, are needed. When standardized testing season hits, the nonprofit provides breakfast to keep students nourished.

“She’s chosen to do it for an area where she grew up and where she was happy. She just wants to make it a happy environment for the kids today,” said Naylor Harris.

The alliance’s partnership with the nonprofit community organization LVTRise has played a large role in securing additional funding and grants to go toward supporting students and their needs, said Pressley.

“My biggest thing is to make sure that these kids know that all of these resources are available,” said Pressley.

Cougar Alliance has inspired Western Hills High students to volunteer and assist Pressley when  help is needed.

“These kids are so good,” said Pressley. “I hope that these kids remember that someone did this for them, and then they’ll turn around and do something nice for somebody else.”

The nonprofit has rallied support from the wider community, shining a light on the high school’s sports and organizations and what keeping students involved does for the children, said Naylor Harris.

“Someone as selfless as (Patty) does not look for recognition, but … it’s good to know there’s good people out there,” said Naylor Harris.

Nicole Lopez is the environment reporter for the Fort Worth Report. Contact her at [email protected].

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