PANAMA CITY BEACH, Fla. (WJHG/WECP) – Six Panama City Beach elementary schools have teamed up to help J.R. Arnold High School in their fight against food insecurity.
Millions of families in the United States experience food insecurity, a struggle that is no stranger to students in Bay County.
Local nonprofit Backpack Blessings has partnered with Arnold High School to offer food pantry services to its students. The nonprofit provides weekend meals to students in all Panama City Beach Schools.
Backpack Blessings Vice President Kim Cooley said pantry services are utilized and more beneficial at the high school level.
“The need is more immediate during the day,” Cooley said. “The kids didn’t want to come down and pick up bags of food to take home so we made the food pantry at Arnold. We stock it every week just like we do bringing the bags for the students.”
The pantry is filled win non-perishable food items, drinks, and personal hygiene items. Students can go in and collect the items they need without being questioned. Staff members said at least 10 to 15 students utilize the pantry daily.
“We know that there are underprivileged and food insecure children throughout the world, but they don’t realize how much there is right here in Bay County and on Panama City Beach. The need is great here at Arnold and we see it because the pantry is emptied every week.”
Due to the demand, more items are constantly needed.
West Bay Elementary School, Surfside Elementary School, Hutchison Beach Elementary School, Patronis Elementary School, A. Gary Walsingham Academy and Breakfast Point Academy are all participating in a food drive to help collect items for the Arnold food pantry.
If you’d like to help out items can be dropped off at the aforementioned schools or J.R. Arnold High School.
The items being collected are as follows:
- Individual Ramen noodles
- Mac n’ Cheese cups
- Cereal bowls
- Grab & Go snacks
- Pop Tarts
- Breakfast bars
- Breakfast drinks
- Gatorade
J.R. Arnold High School Principal Britt Smith said the help is a blessing.
“Programs like this are so important to be able to help our students to be able to focus on learning,” Smith said. “Because if they’re coming to school and they’re hungry they’re not going to be able to focus in the classroom.”
The food drive begins on Feb. 26 and ends on Mar. 14.
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