A Newly Revitalized Food Pantry At M.E. Pearson Elementary School Will Help Better Serve the Communi

The food pantry at M.E. Pearson Elementary School in Kansas City, Kansas recently received a major makeover thanks to a new partnership between Hy-Vee, Harvesters- The Community Food Network, and KC Dream Center.

 On Tuesday, March 10, a ribbon-cutting ceremony was held to help celebrate the pantry’s upgrade. 

The room started as a storage closet for a science class. It then switched to being a pantry with very basic accommodations. 

But thanks to the help of some incredible organizations, including a $25,000 grant from Hy-Vee, it has been transformed into a vibrant, fully stocked resource for families in need. 

With new shelving, updated flooring, refrigeration, and other improvements, the pantry now provides a welcoming and reliable source of food for the community.

 “Fighting childhood hunger is a big part of our mission at Hy-Vee,” said Chris Wiltfong, Kansas City-area Hy-Vee store director. “Opening a food pantry at M.E. Pearson Elementary helps local families put food on their tables and makes it easier for students to learn.”

Randy Lopez, president of the Kansas City, Kansas Public Schools Board, shared a personal story about growing up in a family that needed food assistance. He described how he, his four brothers, and their parents sometimes relied on the generosity of others to put food on the table.

 

KCKPS Superintendent Dr. Anna Stubblefield echoed Lopez’s sentiment and went on to say that having a partnership with so many helpful organizations is a step in the right direction to helping students succeed in the classroom. 

Dr. Stubblefield believes that sustainability is key to helping families, especially for students who may not always have food to eat.  

About 1 in 4 children in Wyandotte County need food assistance, according to Harvesters, and the revitalized pantry is expected to serve approximately 150 families each month.

“Research has shown that access to healthy food is critical to learning outcomes for kids, so we couldn’t be happier to be an integral piece of making this partnership happen,” said Jury Paulson, Director of Community Impact, Harvesters – The Community Food Network.

“A school food pantry is about more than providing meals,” said Lori Cooper, Principal, M.E. Pearson Elementary School. “It’s about dignity, compassion and removing barriers so our students can focus on learning, growing and reaching their full potential.” 

The pantry at M.E. Pearson Elementary is the first on-site school food pantry in Kansas that Hy-Vee has opened in partnership with a Feeding America-affiliated food bank. 

The hope is pantries like the one at M.E. Pearson will open doors to many more.  

Note: The pantry is available exclusively to M.E. Pearson families. Appointments are not required. Families may visit the pantry during its scheduled open hours throughout the week.