N.C. high school students start food pantry to keep classmates from going hungry

WNCT ^ | November 4, 2015 | Zora Stephenson

[Dacula]

WASHINGTON, N.C. (WNCT) — One high school student in Beaufort County, N.C. is committed to making sure its students are taken care of. Students at Washington High School started a food pantry to make sure none of their classmates go home hungry.

What started out as a student government project is now a full time resource to students.

Senior Erin Lewis says, “We wanted to focus on those that need it, but they don’t want to tell us that they need it.”

Lewis along with other classmates and their supervisor decided to start a food pantry. It offers students non-perishable goods as many times as they need it with no questions asked. There are no advertisements or flyers for the resource because it’s anonymous.

“We don’t want the students to be embarrassed or the family to feel like they’ve done something wrong,” guidance counselor Jennifer Beach said.

Beach says students find out about the pantry through word of mouth.

“Those who were involved in it to start with, will let other students know, hey this is something we’ve got up and running we helped create it and you can see your counselor for help,” Beach said.

Project supervisor Laura Thompson says helping one another is what the Pam Pack is all about.

“It’s the idea that we’re not just here to teach you the material that you need to know to pass a test,” Thompson said. “We’re here to educate you for life. Part of that is nourishing the whole student, mind and body, and when we do both of those things we know students will have great outcomes.”

Dozens of students currently use the food pantry. The goal is to expand it and add perishable items. Washington High School also has sanitation items, school supplies and clothes available to its students.

[Tax-chick]

If they didn’t ask you to contribute, then your feelings are irrelevant. It looks as if they’re doing fine without you.

And yes, it would be great if the schools taught civics, as well as English grammar and math.

[tbw2]

After school breakfast and lunch programs and SNAP, how can they be hungry even if illegal aliens? Those programs are readily available.

[Graybeard58]

This is a kind thing for the students to do.

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Yes, it is. They are very generous with (in most cases) their parent’s food.

[Tax-chick]

One assumes the parents are voluntary contributors.