Nutrition is essential for growing bodies and minds. But too many Oklahoma students don’t have the healthy foods they need at home. Thanks to generous donors like you, the Regional Food Bank’s School Pantry Program can support and nourish middle and high school students who live with hunger.
Located on school grounds, school pantries make accessing nutritious food easy for the students. Kids can get the nutrition they need to stay alert and concentrate better in school.
“We have a middle-schooler that is very food insecure, and we were able to get him shopping at our pantry. I truly believe that without the pantry program, this student’s only meals would be at school,” one School Pantry Program coordinator at a Putnam City school shares. “Being able to offer him a bag every week has helped him learn better in the classroom because he is now getting dinner and snacks at home, too.”
Sometimes the students are hesitant to accept the services, but are able to comfortably participate thanks to the program’s flexibility.
“We have a high school senior who is going through a rough patch right now at home,” says a program coordinator in Shattuck. “She was referred by a teacher and was so skeptical and hesitant to accept the services at first. We allowed her to do student choice on her own time.”
The student was able to come in and shop for what she needed when it was convenient and comfortable for her. That flexibility opened a new door to reliable food access for her — and her family.
“I can’t tell you the look of relief on her face when she walked out of there knowing she had food for her and her brother for the week and weekend.”
Through your support, students are able to get the nourishment they need to learn and grow. Thank you!