National Honor Society (NHS) is a national organization that celebrates student leadership. NHS has four core pillars: scholarship, service, leadership, and character. Harwood’s chapter, in accordance with these four pillars, has opened its school food pantry.
The pantry is meant to “create a one-stop access point for students who may be in need of food, household supplies, or clothing,” according to faculty advisor Tedin Lange. “It’s a low-barrier, convenient way for people to get what they need.”
Stocked with non-perishable food, clothing, household supplies, and personal hygiene items, the pantry is open throughout the day. Located behind the desk in the counseling office, it isn’t staffed by students, offering a private and judgement-free space to those in need. “There’s no need to worry about seeing classmates,” said Lange.
School nurse Magge Stone presented the idea of a school food pantry in January, citing Winooski High School’s “Necessity Store” as her inspiration. “Schools are the epicenters of so many communities,” Stone said about Harwood’s food pantry in May, “and when people have basic needs met, they’ll be more available for learning and they’ll be more successful in school.”
She noticed the school’s growing need for a space with resources available to students and reached out to NHS to run it. NHS is unique when it comes to membership: it starts the year with a “skeleton crew of seniors” who were accepted to the club their junior year – this year’s skeleton crew is especially sparse, with only eight seniors making up the club until the induction on November 13 – and doesn’t reach its full membership until new members are inducted, often in November or December. The food pantry gives NHS seniors an activity to focus on while the club receives and reviews applications.
To celebrate the opening and to keep the pantry stocked, NHS will be holding a drive during the week of Harvest Fest, which runs from October 6-10. Non-perishable food, personal hygiene items, household supplies, and clothing (including winter clothes and shoes) are accepted. The grade level that donates the most will win Spirit Points.
The club members thanked True North Evolution for their donation of clothes, Bisbee’s Hardware for their discount on shelving, and the Mad River Valley Rotary Club for their seed grant. An extra thank you goes to Wendy McDonough for championing this project in the community, assisting with set-up, and running a hygiene item drive among Mad River Valley Rotary members.
Outside donations for the food pantry are accepted and greatly appreciated. Any donations may be dropped off at Harwood’s front desk.
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