WARREN — Wanting to help local students, members of Second Baptist Church spent the past several weeks collecting food and non-perishable food items for the Warren G. Harding High School Raider Food Pantry.
Antonio Burgess, a sophomore at the school, said the church members wanted to do what they could to help any student who may need items.
School officials said there are some students in the district whose parents work at General Motors, which recently idled operations. Pastor Todd Johnson accompanied students with the donations to the pantry, noting many students may want personal hygiene items in addition to food.
Melanie Hameed, a teacher and advisor to the food pantry, said she is always amazed at how the students will step up to help at the event.
“The students help do the unloading and sorting of the food items. They learn of giving back in their classes. They have learned to give back with all the things that have been given to them,” she said.
Principal Dante Capers said there is a food pantry at each of the school buildings in the district.
“It is always great to get the community’s support,” Capers said.
Last fall, the high school, United Way of Trumbull County and Second Harvest Food Bank joined with other partners in opening the pantry, which will be a resource to students at school who have a need for food and personal care items.
School officials have noted the pantry will serve as a much-needed continuation of the backpack program already in place in K-8 buildings.
The pantry is open throughout the academic year to all Harding students and will be stocked with a variety of food, clothing and personal care items. The pantry is accessible to students after school and with the coordination of our staff throughout the school day.
Students from the Transition to Work program at Harding take responsibility for the pantry. The students keep inventory, order products, wash and fols clothing, display product and collect usage data. This serves as a work experience for these students where they will gain skills and knowledge of the work world.
