Greeley-evans District 6, Success Foundation to install food pantries in schools

The Greeley-evans School District 6 Nutrition Services and a nonprofit supporting the school system have teamed up to install food pantries at all public and charter schools over the next three years.

The nutrition services department will work with The Success

Foundation on the venture — which is an expansion of the Food4success campaign from 2020. The cost will be $5,000 for each pantry. The pantries comprise a chest freezer, glass door cooler, locking shelving and a rolling cart, according to a news release from the foundation.

The campaign was created last year to raise money for accumulated school meal debt.

Nearly 70% of District 6 students qualify for free or reducedprice lunches.

The Success Foundation says implementing a food pantry at each school site will help alleviate these issues. Pantries at the middle and high school level can help keep students in school by relieving pressure to provide food for themselves and their families by working part time or full time.

“School food pantries are convenient and provide a readily accessible source of food assistance and food choice to students and their families throughout the school year and during school breaks,” according to The Success Foundation. “Data trends show that when kids have access to healthy meals every day, they feel better, perform better and have fewer behavioral and health problems.” The school food pantries will complement existing breakfast and lunch programs. School kitchens will be able to contribute food items that are currently going to waste. Students and their families will have access to fresh fruits and vegetables, dairy products, shelf-stable items, grains, and protein items such as frozen meats and poultry.