Forty-seven million people across the United States face food insecurity, according to Feeding America, an organization that operates a nationwide network of food banks and pantries. The Patriots Care Pantry works to make a difference for students at Millard South and the Millard community. The pantry is located in room 229 and serves 30-40 students per week and a similar number of families at their family nights. It is overseen and maintained by Student Council.
“Our pantry is an open resource for any student who needs things like food and hygiene items,” Student Council Community Service Officer Raven Cranny said.
“For those of us on SNAP benefits, the hygiene items in particular are nice to see because they aren’t covered. I myself have lived on SNAP for a lot of my life, and I enjoy the chance to give back in a way that I wish I had when I was a kid,” Cranny said.
The pantry is open throughout the school year.
“We have distribution every Friday, or the day before a large break, and periodic family nights every second Tuesday. This is where we invite community families… [to] restock their cabinets,” Cranny said.
Everything provided at the pantry goes to students and families in need.
“We have a guilt-free and no-questions-asked policy, meaning that everything we provide goes directly to the families of our school with absolutely no judgment,” Cranny said.
The pantry got started when a past student council member saw the need.
“She saw a need here in our Millard area because of the rising percentage of [people on] Free & Reduced lunch… and the growing rates of food insecurity in Omaha. She saw a similar program garner success in Ralston and gathered Council support to do the same here. The rest is history,” Cranny said.
According to the Nebraska Department of Education 35 percent of the Millard South Student body is on free and reduced lunch which is roughly 884 students. Being on free and reduced lunch can indicate need but anyone can utilize the panty.
Pantries have become even more important due to the recent uncertainty with SNAP benefits. The community has shown up to help those in need.
“The recent SNAP fiasco was met by our community in tremendous ways,” Student Council advisor Kyrie Nehls said.
“We had elementary schools that did drives, churches and businesses that just showed up with vans full of food.” The pantry was able to open an extra night.
“We also opened an extra night for our families and were able to provide for them some much needed assistance,” Nehls said.
The athletics and activity programs at Millard South are also big supporters of the pantry.
“Whether it has been an entry fee of menstrual products to see the first volleyball scrimmage or donations taken at the play, they have been great about helping,” Nehls said.
The pantry partners with various organizations to provide goods as well.
“We also partner with Saving Grace Perishable Food Pantry which brings food that has been donated by restaurants, convenience stores and grocery stores, and with Access Period which provides menstrual products. We have several churches in the area that donate once a month or every quarter or so,” Nehls said.
If people want to donate they can bring items to a cart in the staff copy room or to room 309.
“We have collection carts in the copy room or room 309 if they are bringing supplies… If they want to donate cash, they can give it to the activities office,” Nehls said. If people are bringing a lot of items they can contact Kyrie Nehls directly via email.
“People tend to donate food items but what we go through the fastest are hygiene and cleaning supplies,” Nehls said.
The Patriots Care pantry is open after school every Friday or the day before a break for students, and the first Tuesday of every month for parents.
“Our pantry prides itself on being an inclusive resource for our students in need, without judgment,” Cranny said.
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For more information about the specific items needed by the pantry visit their amazon wish list that gets delivered directly to the school: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/2ZQ1WNR2PPAKA?ref_=wl_share
Contact Kyrie Nehls at: [email protected]
