Central Unified opens food pantry at El Capitan Middle School, second in the district

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- The location of the Eagles has a caller spot connected field to invited students and their families.

"We're beauteous good stocked, but we privation families to cognize what's here," El Capitan Middle School Principal Heather Martinez said.

Martinez says the caller nutrient pantry carries shelf-stable items similar pancake premix and pasta noodles.

At the backmost of the installation is simply a covering closet with caller apparel and shoes.

"We're calling it 'The Giving Pantry," Martinez said.

Student-painted retention containers purpose to marque the abstraction lukewarm and welcoming.

The mural connected the partition has the school's mascot delivering nutrient to students below.

Martinez says enactment students person played an integral relation successful getting the pantry up and running, including cutting the ribbon astatine the school's expansive opening.

With astir 700 students connected campus, Martinez says determination are a assortment of needs.

"Our students are fortunate capable to travel to schoolhouse and beryllium capable to get 2 meals a day, but what astir the third? What astir the weekend? What astir their families who whitethorn not person entree to that? This gives them that stableness that they whitethorn not person otherwise," Martinez said.

The nutrient pantry is the 2nd successful the district.

It's supported by the Foundation for Central Schools.

Executive Director Serena Dohi says much than 80% of students district-wide are socioeconomically disadvantaged and the request is growing.

"This schoolhouse year, we person seen a large summation successful need. Especially aft November, determination was immoderate changes successful the system and truthful since past we've seen astatine slightest a 100% increase," Dohi said.

With costs rising, Dohi says galore times parents are stuck having to marque pugnacious fiscal decisions.

"Often times, a genitor whitethorn person to inquire themselves, 'Am I going to wage my inferior measure oregon get my kid a caller brace of shoes?'" Dohi said.

The pantry is unfastened with caller nutrient erstwhile a month.

All visits are assignment based.

Students are referred by teachers, administrators oregon different unit members.

Families tin besides speech straight to their school's household outreach liaison if they request support.

Martinez says she hopes families instrumentality vantage of the caller resource.

"This is the 2nd pantry we person successful the territory but we service a antithetic radical connected this broadside of the district, and truthful we privation them to cognize their voices are heard and that these resources are for them," Martinez said.

Organizers are readying a listening league for the spring.

They privation to perceive from the assemblage astir the champion mode to service them.

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