The School Pantry Program
The mission of the school pantry program is to help alleviate child hunger in
America through the provision of food to children and their families at school.
School pantries are located on the grounds of a school intended to provide a
more readily accessible source of food assistance to low-income students and
their families. Sites are consistently in the same location as the school’s
campus, have set distribution schedules and offer ongoing food assistance
services. School pantries may have a permanent set up within a school, or may
operate through a mobile distribution rotation where food is brought to the
school campus.
These pantries pose little burden to the school but make a significant impact on
the lives of its students. Too many children must deal with the anxiety that
accompanies living without day-to-day necessities. School is often the least of
their worries. By removing this stress, school pantries give students the
opportunity to devote their energies toward school in a healthy, positive
environment. Youth in poverty are taking on financial responsibilities for their
families at far too early of an age. We need to let kids to be kids, which means
allowing them to only worry about their responsibilities as a student. Our
school pantry program gives students the resources they need to feel secure in
their home life and thereby turn their attention toward succeeding in school.
Ultimately, that is how the cycle of poverty is broken and hunger is defeated.
How does it work?
Volunteers and site personnel are essential to a successful school pantry.
Including, but not limited to, receiving food delivery, breaking down cases of
food into individual packages, coordinating distributions, and working with Food
Bank of Eastern Michigan staff for food orders.
How is the program funded?
School pantries are reliant on community support and grant monies to fund the
program, and are not government funded. School pantries are currently helping
students in Crawford, Genesee, Iosco, and Saginaw counties.
What can I do to help?
The two best way to help is to volunteer your time to your local school and
assist them in setting up a pantry or helping them manage the site. You
can also give your monetary support by helping fund the school pantry program
through the Food Bank.
Click here to
make a donation to the program.