Offering food

Two elementary schools in Jay County are offering food pantries to students’ parents.

Judge Haynes and Redkey have partnered with Second Harvest Food Bank to provide the pantries at the schools.

“The goal is to build our partnership with the parents,” said Erica Tomano, principal of Judge Haynes.

Second Harvest Food Bank, which is the distributor of the food, spent a year gaining the support and funding from local agencies and raised enough money to support the program through the end of the school year.

Anyone who has a child attending a public school in Jay County is welcome to pick up food at the schools simply by telling the staff the name of their student. Income verification is not required.

“We have a lot of kids who are food insecure in the county,” said Tomano, “and this is helping meet that need while also allowing us to have some contact with parents and families and give them what they need.”

The pantry at Redkey is open at 2:30 p.m. on the first and third Tuesdays of each month through the first week of December. The one at Judge Haynes is open at 2:30 p.m. on the first and third Wednesdays of each month.

Tomano said the turnout was good Sept. 6 for the first food pantry. On Wednesday, there was a line of parents and children outside the school doors waiting.

The pantry is set up in the cafeteria/gym at Judge Haynes and food is divided out on labeled tables. Families get carts and are allowed so many items from each table. The food they receive varies from fresh produce to chocolate milk, but the school does not know exactly what it will receive until the truck arrives.

“Last week we had a variety of protein,” said Tomano, “but Redkey had mainly ground beef this time. It just depends on what the truck brings.”

Judge Haynes partnered with Portland Rotary Club to help set up the pantry, and faculty members are also encouraged to help.

“We have an amazing staff here,” said Tomano. “They are a huge help.”

If the food arrives early enough, students help set up during the school day, giving them the opportunity to learn about giving back to the community.

Earlier this month, two fourth grade classes helped with the preparation.

The two schools hope they can provide for the students and their families, while building relationships with them.

“We help them carry food out to the cars and greet parents as they come,” said Tomano. “We just want to make this a good experience (for the families).”