Algonquin has its own Breakfast Club. Unlike the movie, there’s no Saturday detention involved. The “club” is organized by teachers looking to make sure that their students don’t start off the day too hungry to learn.
An article in the Community Advocate explains how ARHS teachers Gina Johnston and Aimee Selby opened a food pantry in the high school for students this fall:
The duo recently set up an on-site food pantry in the teachers’ cafe that is now stocked primarily with breakfast foods such as cereal bars and fruit cups. The pantry has been open since October and operates before school, 6:45 to 7:15 a.m. It is staffed by teachers and there is no student involvement because of privacy concerns.
“They come in the morning and they grab what they want… they log in with their student ID number,” Johnston said. “So far we’ve had about 51 [students] and for us we think it’s a low number because we have 150 kids who can access it.”
You can read more about their concerns and efforts here.
I reached out to see how the community could support the program. They will accept both perishable and non-perishable foods. All donations can be dropped in the school’s rotunda.
Their flyer right, details that they are looking for fruits (canned, dried, or fresh) bars (granola, protein, breakfast, or cereal) and snacks (trail mix, peanut butter crackers, or cheese crackers). If you’re looking for more specific suggestions, they also set up an amazon wishlist here.
If you prefer, you can donate a gift card for purchasing items. If you have any questions, email gjohnston@nsboro.k12.ma.us.
