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.
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.
School pantries are reliant on community support and grant monies to fund the program and are not government funded. FBEM pantries serve kids and their families at 43 sites!
For more information please contact Austin Knight at (810) 396-0222