Patriot Pantry is a program led by Mrs. Edger that provides an assortment of nutritious snacks and hygiene items for students throughout the day. Many teachers and staff, listed in the halls on a flyer, choose to participate and offer a container of foods that anyone can access for free whenever they need it. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, “poor nutrition and diet-related diseases are correlated with lower academic achievement, worse health outcomes, and more behavioral problems”. With this in mind, Patriot Pantry is an essential part of Bob Jones. While the cafeteria does provide breakfast and lunch for free if you meet certain requirements, often students do not meet those and/or just need a snack between meals. Adding on the benefits to your performance on assignments and tests from consuming healthier snacks, Patriot Pantry helps everyone.
However, all the good that Patriot Pantry does comes with a cost. Supply runs out fast and teachers struggle to keep up with the demand. Patriot Pantry is mostly fueled through donations from individuals and clubs. This does work, but it is not very sustainable or a reliable source for what students need every day. Recently students report not getting as much from Patriot Pantry, saying they only get something a few times a month. This could be because most students do not have a class with a Patriot Pantry nearby, making it more inconvenient during the day. In addition to this, with only a few students donating to the program individually or through clubs, expansion to more classrooms does not seem feasible in its current state.
You might be wondering, how can you help keep Patriot Pantry alive? Fortunately Mrs. Edger has provided a list of in demand items which you can find below:
- Protein Bars
- Cheese Crackers
- Peanut Butter Crackers
- Nutrigrain Bars
While a separate program from Patriot Pantry, Weekend Pantry is also accepting donations and is looking for these items:
- Girls Jeans size 8 +
- Boys Jeans size ALL
- Unisex Shirts size ALL
- Deodorant
- Backpacks
If you plan to support either service, be sure to contact Mrs. Edger ([email protected]). Thanks in advance for supporting your fellow Patriots!
