Gift Of Thrift's New Student Food Pantry
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DescriptionAn article explaining MRHS's new student food pantry.
MessageIf you or anyone you know is experiencing food insecurity, reach out to Ms. Weekes or Mimi for assistance at Monomoy, or visit The Family Pantry of Cape Cod.
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Monomoy WritesStarted last school year and run by Ms. Weekes and Ms. Mimi, Monomoy’s new food pantry aims to solve the growing problem of food insecurity at our school and on Cape Cod. Due to the tourist-centered economy, seasonal unemployment spikes, and high cost of living, families on Cape Cod are finding it harder and harder to sustain themselves. Estimates have found that more than 10% of Cape Cod’s 230,000 residents are experiencing food insecurity. Ever since the pandemic, food pantries across the Cape have seen a spike of up to 60% in the number of families needing assistance (Clark, Barbara, Hunger on Cape: Local food pantries serve growing number of Cape Codders, Cape Cod Time, 2022).
Monomoy’s new food pantry is run alongside the Gift Of Thrift and receives donations from The Family Pantry of Cape Cod. They mostly carry nonperishable items such as canned beans, soups, and tuna. These items are shipped to the school and packed inside the lockers outside of Ms. Mimi’s room. Every Friday afternoon, students in Ms. Mimi’s room pack ten to fifteen paper bags full of essential food items and occasional snack items donated by Ms. Grogan of the Shore Food Pantry. Any student can grab one of these bags for the weekend on their way out of school on Friday.
Rafael Oliveira, a senior from the Class Of 2024, has been a huge proponent of the food pantry’s mission. “I do this because I love to do it; to help people. When I moved to the United States, Ms. Mimi told me about this project and I said ‘Of course’, I had no reason to say no! I do it because I love it and I expect nothing back”, Rafael said in a recent interview. Every Friday he assists in putting together bags and handing them out to students.
Students in the Diversity Club have also periodically helped to prepare bags and organize the pantry.
This program is needed now more than ever, and will hopefully continue to grow and provide Monomoy students with extra support. It was amazing to learn more about it, and I would like to thank everyone involved for doing such amazing work in our community!
Monomoy’s new food pantry is run alongside the Gift Of Thrift and receives donations from The Family Pantry of Cape Cod. They mostly carry nonperishable items such as canned beans, soups, and tuna. These items are shipped to the school and packed inside the lockers outside of Ms. Mimi’s room. Every Friday afternoon, students in Ms. Mimi’s room pack ten to fifteen paper bags full of essential food items and occasional snack items donated by Ms. Grogan of the Shore Food Pantry. Any student can grab one of these bags for the weekend on their way out of school on Friday.
Rafael Oliveira, a senior from the Class Of 2024, has been a huge proponent of the food pantry’s mission. “I do this because I love to do it; to help people. When I moved to the United States, Ms. Mimi told me about this project and I said ‘Of course’, I had no reason to say no! I do it because I love it and I expect nothing back”, Rafael said in a recent interview. Every Friday he assists in putting together bags and handing them out to students.
Students in the Diversity Club have also periodically helped to prepare bags and organize the pantry.
This program is needed now more than ever, and will hopefully continue to grow and provide Monomoy students with extra support. It was amazing to learn more about it, and I would like to thank everyone involved for doing such amazing work in our community!
SourcesClark, B. (2022, November 24). Hunger on Cape: Local food pantries serve growing number of Cape Codders. Cape Cod Times. https://www.capecodtimes.com/story/news/local/2022/11/24/cape-cod-food-pantries-see-60-spike-in-need-for-services/69614472007/
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