Fighting Hunger, Feeding Hope
By Sherri Blevins
Fighting Hunger, Feeding Hope is the slogan for a new service offered to students at Plainview High School. The Plainview Pantry was created to serve children who struggle with hunger and food insecurity. According to research obtained by the creators of the Pantry, one in five children struggle with hunger issues, which calculates to a possible 250 students at Plainview alone, who daily not only struggle with academic and social issues, but who also worry about having the necessities of life.
Plainview Pantry needs your help. They are accepting food and toiletry donations as well as monetary donations. Local businesses are supporting the plan by offering their sites as collection points. First Southern State Bank, First State Bank, and Stop to Save Supermarket will accept donations starting Wednesday, August 28, 2019.
Plainview Pantry needs canned food (fruits, veggies, meat, soups, ravioli, etc.), cereal, granola bars, Nutri-Grain bars, peanut butter, crackers, mac & cheese, bagels, muffins, and oatmeal. The Pantry also needs toiletry items, including soap, shampoo, toothpaste, toothbrushes, and deodorant.
Mountain Valley News spoke with Plainview teacher, Brandon Renfroe concerning the origin of the program. He stated, “The Backpacks of Blessings program was started several years ago by Kelli Gardner and has been a tremendous blessing to students in DeKalb County Schools. It provides needy students with weekend food assistance. Several teachers at Plainview were brainstorming ways to help our students not only on the weekends, but also during the week. We started the Plainview Food Pantry to meet that need. We believe that we can work in tandem with the Backpacks of Blessings program, now managed by Broadway Baptist Church, to ensure that our students are covered seven days a week.
Renfroe also explained how the operation works and who is involved. He said, “ When we broached the idea of starting the Plainview Pantry, our superintendent, Jason Barnett, gave his blessing and encouraged us to get started. Tony Richards, our principal, was also helpful in pointing us to potential donors. As far as day-to-day operations are concerned, Marilyn Bryant, our assistant principal, has been invaluable in organizing our efforts. Her office serves as the collection area for all donated food. Whitney Hodges Whiteside is working to contact local businesses to partner with us in serving as potential drop-off points. Our school secretaries, Karen Biddle, and Suzette Williamson are also vital to the operation.
The program is evolving. Currently, the food pantry is located in Marilyn Bryant’s office, and students are welcome to come by if they are in need. But we realize this might be somewhat intimidating or inconvenient for many students, so what we are planning is for our teachers to take food from the pantry and keep it in their classrooms, if feasible, and discreetly provide it to students they have identified as being in need. By going from the pantry to the teachers, then to the students, we’re hoping to make things as convenient and as confidential as possible. Nothing is perfect, but we’re trying to make a difference.
Renfroe wanted to share one last thing with readers. He concluded, “As someone transplanted to DeKalb County a few years ago, I believe it is the best place anyone could want to live. What makes it so special is the people, and the love they have for this community, and especially for our children. By helping our students, we are ensuring a brighter future for DeKalb County. It’s just the right thing to do. We are a burgeoning enterprise at this point, but one thing I have learned is this: Planview School is blessed with a faculty and a community that cares deeply about its students. Without community support, the reality of Fighting Hunger, Feeding Hope would not be possible.”