SALEM, Va. (WFXR) – Students in need at Salem High School will now have access to healthy foods thanks to a new pantry.


Members of the EFW (Education for Work) program at Salem High School assisted with stocking the food pantry shelves.
Courtesy: Garry Lautenschlager

The “Salem Bread” Food Pantry is supported by a Healthy Communities Action Team (HCAT), which is made up of local churches, nonprofits and government agencies, according to a statement from the Salem Area Ecumenical Ministries.

HCAT received a two-year, $59,450 grant from the Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth (VFHY) to help initiate the food pantry.

According to No Kid Hungry, more than 11 million children in the United States live in “food insecure” homes. Because their basic nutritional needs aren’t being met, these students are more likely to slack off or have behavior problems in school.

Pastor David Drebes presented a check on behalf of College Lutheran to support the new food pantry at Salem High School.
Courtesy: Garry Lautenschlager

Students and volunteers have been working together for weeks to put their student-led food pantry into place. This is the second of two food pantries that HCAT has implemented. In the fall of 2018, the “Giving Light” Food Pantry was launched at Andrew Lewis Middle School.

The open house and ribbon cutting to officially open the food pantry is set for Monday, Nov. 18 at 10 a.m.

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