SEARCY, Ar (LP) — “If you can’t feed a hundred people, then feed just one.” – Mother Teresa 

Fourty million people in the United States go hungry, and Arkansas is the fifth highest food insecurity state with 17.5% of the population starving. Searcy High School is contributing to kids in need with a food pantry. Mrs. Jones, an English teacher at SHS, states the reasoning for the launch, “I read about other schools in the state offering that service for students, and when I mentioned it to Peyton (Jones, my son, 12th grade), who thought it would be a good idea at SHS. As a student council member, he suggested it as a community service project, and the rest of the club agreed.” 

Not many students know about the food pantry. Marlee Price, a freshman at SHS, suggests, “I think they should put posters or flyers up around the school to show more about the food pantry.” Another small flaw with the pantry, is that some students may feel embarrassed going to Mrs. Edelmann or Mrs. Joyner in front of students to either get information, or to receive a food pack. Marlee further suggests, “If students knew more about it, I think they would go get food packs. If there was a special way the students could pick them up without their other classmates knowing, I bet they wouldn’t be afraid to get them.” Students can always go by either Mrs. Edelmann’s (room 204) or Mrs. Joyner’s (room 321) class during their planning period or lunch to get a pack. 

Food that come in the packs include two or three meal items such as macaroni and cheese, ravioli, or ramen noodles. They also include four or five snack and breakfast items like granola bars, pudding, or peanut butter crackers. The food pantry is also accepting donations that can be dropped off at either office, or at Mrs. Edelmann’s or Mrs. Joyner’s room. Christine Edelmann, a Social Studies teacher at SHS says, “We hope to continue to help meet the needs of students and grow to include more students. We have coats that are available when it gets colder and I hope that we can expand to offer more and more items to students who need them.” 

If you or any student’s family you know needs assistance with food or necessities, you can also visit the following places: Good Samaritan Center, College Church of Christ, Downtown – Church of Christ, Searcy Faith Assembly of God, and more churches in Searcy. If you have further questions email Mrs.Edelmann (cedelmann@searcyschools.org) or Mrs.Joyner (bjoyner@searcyschools.org)