SCHENECTADY — The Schenectady City School District has taken a significant step towards addressing food insecurity by equipping all elementary schools with food pantries. These pantries are designed to provide a more equitable solution to the persistent problem of food access in the district.
The food pantries are an extension of the district’s weekend backpack program, which has been providing weekend meals to hundreds of elementary students for several years. However, the program was limited in its scope, as it only catered to individual students and not their families who might also be facing food insecurity, explains Kayla Ambesi, the district’s supervisor of community schools.
“The previous program did not consider the needs of a high school sibling, a non-school-aged sibling, or the student’s caregivers,” Ambesi pointed out during a gathering at Keane Elementary School.
With the new program, families in the district can access the food pantries as frequently as required. This allows caregivers to choose the items they need, rather than receiving pre-selected commodities that may not meet their specific needs, Ambesi added.
The district had previously established food pantries at its high school and Mont Pleasant Middle School.
The food pantries at the district’s 11 elementary schools were launched in October and have seen a steady increase in usage. The school-based pantries have served 180% more students than the previous backpack model, reaching an additional 227 adults, according to district data.
Ambesi anticipates these numbers to rise as more people become aware of the program.
“Our primary goal is to ensure that families have sufficient food to feed their children and themselves, contributing to the overall success of everyone,” she emphasized.
The food pantries are part of the district’s community schools initiative that was launched in 2022. The initiative aims to strengthen relationships with community stakeholders and transform school buildings into community centers.
Several community organizations, including MVP Health Care, Broadview Federal Credit Union, the Schenectady Foundation, United Way, Justice for Orphans, and Liberty Church, have contributed to funding and stocking the pantries.
The Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York supplies food for the pantries, which are managed by Schenectady Community Ministries, the largest food pantry in Schenectady County.
“I am a firm believer in the power of community collaboration. By working together with our stakeholders, we can achieve anything,” said Carlo Cotto, assistant superintendent for innovation, equity & engagement. “Unity within our community is the key to tackling the challenges we face, and together we can make a difference.”
The district collaborated with SiCM to launch a mobile food pantry at Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary School in 2022. This initiative accounted for 1,586 visits, or an average of 71,000 meals, according to Amaury Tañón-Santos, the organization’s executive director.
In 2023, the program expanded to eight elementary schools and saw a 111% increase in visits, representing 155,255 meals.
Tañón-Santos believes that the expanded pantry program is a community-based solution to a longstanding problem.
Last school year, 6,798 students were classified as “economically disadvantaged,” representing 79% of the student population, according to data from the state’s Education Department.
A recent study by the nonprofit No Kid Hungry revealed that food insecurity can adversely affect academic performance and lead to behavioral and concentration issues.
“Food, health, and education are interconnected,” Tañón-Santos stated. “Our children should never have to worry about going hungry.”
At Keane Elementary, the pantry is stocked with a variety of items, ranging from canned soup and pudding cups to toilet paper and shampoo.
Ambesi mentioned that the district keeps track of each item to know what needs to be reordered. However, families can also request specific items. If the district cannot provide an item, it collaborates with community partners to assist the family.
“We are committed to responding to the needs and wants of our families,” Ambesi said.
Ambesi hopes to establish pantries in all district schools in the coming months and is planning to launch a community health initiative to expand medical access for families in need.
She also noted that any family with a student in the district can access the pantries.
Betsy Dickson, senior director of children’s programs for the Regional Food Bank, praised the new pantries for bringing essential services directly to students and their families. She noted that the familiar school environment helps to eliminate the stigma often associated with visiting a food pantry.
“This initiative is all about meeting children where they are, acknowledging their diverse backgrounds, and ensuring they have what they need to grow and thrive,” Dickson said.
This is a wonderful initiative that will greatly benefit the students and their families. #Agree
This is a fantastic step towards addressing food insecurity in our community.
This is a fantastic initiative that will make a significant impact.