Two CMS schools are now operating monthly food banks to help feed students and their families. Shamrock Gardens and Albemarle Road elementary schools received a grant from Target for new libraries and books. That also included a monthly drop-off of food from the Second Harvest Food Bank. Both schools have high numbers of kids from needy families.
Nancy Pope helps set up the school pantries for Target. She's heard from teachers in high-poverty schools how much of a problem hunger can be. "They noticed that students were getting a good breakfast and lunch at school, but then over the weekends and at night had no food at home," says Pope.
Parents can pick up 22 pounds of food per child enrolled at the school each month. Pope says that's enough for seventeen meals. Shamrock Gardens is opening the pantry one night a month when other school activities are planned.