Flour Bluff High School Key Club has launched a new initiative to provide classmates who may be struggling, or in need, access to food pantry items. The Key Club Food Pantry is available for FBHS students to pick up food items for themselves and their siblings.
Flour Bluff High School Seniors, Chance Pittman and Thomas Nelson have spear headed the launch of the pantry. They realized during the recent government shutdown that there may be some classmates and their families who are struggling with access to basic needs such as food, even if is just on a temporary basis.
“We know that some of our friends and classmates don’t always have a hot meal to go home to,” said Chance Pittman, FBHS Senior and Key Club member. “We started the pantry to give anyone who’s struggling access to a basic necessity.”
Flour Bluff High School teacher and Key Club Sponsor, Gayle DeWolfe, added, “Our goal is to help out our kids who have a hard time with dinner due to whatever struggles may be going on at that time.”
The Food Pantry, located in the FBHS Registrar’s Office, is open during the school day for students to come by and grab items off the shelf. Because the Food Pantry is just getting started, it is in need of food donations that have a shelf life.
“We’re hoping students and staff will bring in items for the pantry on a regular basis,” said Thomas Nelson, FBHS senior and Key Club member. “If everyone brought in a little bit, we could definitely take care of our own.”
The two seniors are working to get the word out about the Food Pantry. They want students, who may be struggling with access to food, to know there is a private area at school they can go to fill a bag with items to take home with them. Moving forward, the pair said they will be posting flyers and letting their friends know by word-of-mouth about the Pantry.
“There are kids out there who aren’t nearly as fortunate as we are,” Pittman stated. “We just want to help them out.”
“I want them to know that we care about them,” DeWolfe said. “We want to help them without fear of embarrassment.”
Donations for the Food Pantry are being accepted and can be dropped off at the Flour Bluff High School receptionist desk or to Mrs. DeWolfe’s classroom, Room 807.