#AISDCares, and it is more evident than ever! We're sharing our stories of people going above and beyond, and we invite you to do the same on social media with the hashtag #AISDCares.

Throughout the past week, our AISD families have helped immensely by boiling water and sending it in a sustainable, reusable container with students. If that weren't happening, the water supplies we are receiving from the state wouldn't be enough for our district.

The AISD family is thankful to community partners including, but certainly not limited to, H-E-B, Verizon, Richard's Rainwater, Central Market on Westgate and more for their donations. Only a couple days into, this we received the equivalent of 30 trucks full of water so that at least every school received a pallet of bottled water. 

AISD leadership continues to work with our partners at the city and elsewhere to ensure that water is reaching all campuses.

Our own staff from departments throughout the district are also volunteering to help and working overtime, sometime overnight, to ensure we take care of our students. Some nights, the warehouse staff worked from 6–11p.m., went home to rest and returned at 5 a.m. for food delivery. We've even heard stories of staff calling in their friends and families to help make the deliveries happen—that is what it means to be #AISDHome.

As we look forward to the end of this week, measures we'll continue to take for the safety and health of our students include:

• Campuses will continue to accept donations of sealed, bottled water.
• Drinking fountains will remain covered or closed.
• Campus staff will provide boiled or bottled water to any students in need.

Our food services staff also have been taking extra precautions to safely feed our students and staff, and continue that work. 

• Cafeteria menus were adjusted to include hot vegetables, canned fruit and fresh fruits with peels such as orange and bananas.
• No salad bars were available, but baby carrots and precut celery will continue to be served.
• All water used for cooking, washing produce, washing hands and making ice is being brought to a vigorous boil before use.
• Kitchen staff are working to conserve as much water as possible.

Our #AISDProud family remains committed to our students' safety and well-being, and to achieving academic excellence—which means keeping our students learning when we can.

Thank you to our community for your part in this momentous effort. We appreciate your investment in Austin's students!