MERCER CO., Pa. (WKBN) — A program that helps feed students in Mercer County is expanding, thanks in part to one service organization.
Three Mercer County Schools are currently piloting the Mercer County Food Bank’s School Pantry Program.
“It’s a way to provide healthy, nutritious food five days a week to children who are in need,” said Alexis Spence-Locke, with Mercer County Food Bank.
Sharon Schools were the first to adopt the program in the spring, followed by Farrell and West Middlesex this school year. Through the program, the schools place orders with the food bank and have pantries set up in the schools that any child can access.
“Students are able to basically just ask to go to the nurse,” Spence-Locke said. “They can go to the nurse, Sharon specifically — it’s actually in the nurse’s office — they can go down and they’re picking, you know, what they and their families like.”
The School Pantry Program is designed to eventually replace the food bank’s backpack program– which sent pre-packed bags of food home with children.
“And we’re moving away from that backpack program because previously we were providing shelf-stable food items for a weekend or a long holiday, but now children are being provided again that access to food 5 days a week,” she said.
As the program grows, the food bank hopes to provide more than just shelf-stable items. A donation of refrigerators from the Sharon Rotary Club to the Sharon School Pantries will help with that.
“Now, we’re going to, in addition to those shelf-stable offerings, provide produce, dairy, meat,” Spence-Locke said.
Over 10 schools still participate in the historic backpack program.
“Our hope is next year to have all those schools flipped to the school pantry model, but again, it’s ultimately their decision,” she said.
Last month, between the three schools piloting the program, the School Pantries fed over 300 students.
