Patriot Pantry is available to all students in the school. Patriot Pantry is a free resource that can be found in designated classrooms within the school building. Any classroom with a teacher involved in Patriot Pantry will have a signature logo visible outside of the room. Students can come into these classrooms and request snacks, hygiene products, or menstrual products. As long as it is stocked up, students can make up for the breakfast they didn’t eat or the water they didn’t drink.
Patriot Pantry has done a great job being there for any student who needs it. “I really like it!” said Meghan McCann, a sophomore, “Sometimes my stomach gets out of whack, so I used it a lot last year in my first block.” Many students who make use of Patriot Pantry attest to its benefits, but this is also observed by teachers who are involved in orchestrating the service. Coach Dickerson, a teacher who distributes items for Patriot Pantry, stated, “I love the goal that Patriot Pantry sets out to accomplish. From what I’ve witnessed, it has been effective in providing students the energy on days that they are lacking due to hunger.”
A mix of students and teachers on the survey pointed out that Patriot Pantry is not always well-stocked. Mrs. Murray, another teacher sponsor for Patriot Pantry, said, “I wish the community could stock the pantry for the students. Mrs. Edger does an amazing job checking on pantry teachers so we can have snacks available, but it is a lot for one person to do. If the community could donate items, more students could receive items they need.” It was also brought up that more variety in the items provided by Patriot Pantry would be greatly appreciated. “More drinks, because there are a lot of dry foods,” Imani Joseph, a senior, suggested.
Finally, Alyssa Jenkins, a sophomore, shared, “I think that the period bins of Patriot Pantry should be placed in the girl’s bathrooms, that way you don’t have to travel all the way to a location to get a product. That way, students can also stock these bins if they choose, as some ladies leave extra pads/tampons on the counter or in a stall. …” Some students in the survey have voiced their thankfulness for Patriot Pantry’s supply of menstrual products, as it became evident that the service reaches all sorts of needs that students could have.
Patriot Pantry is a real thing within our school, and its impact has indeed helped students when they need it.
