Food Podcast: Montour's Classroom Cupboard addresses hunger in the school district

The reality of child hunger in Western Pennsylvania can be surprising, as 1 in 5 children is facing hunger.

On Episode 7 of the Food Podcast, Brian Gulish is joined by Jane Dixon, who created the Classroom Cupboard Food Pantry within the Montour School District.

“Last year alone, in year one, they ended up providing food to 60 students in the district,” Gulish said.

The Classroom Cupboard opened in April and is the first districtwide food pantry in Western Pennsylvania. The program is open to all students and families within the district and is located at Montour High School. The pantry offers nonperishable food, personal care items and household supplies.

“I kept reading and hearing so much about food insecurity with children, and I really wanted to do something to make a difference in our community because to me, it is not acceptable that children are hungry,” Dixon said.

The Pennsylvania Principals Association recently awarded Dixon with the Service to Children award during the organization’s annual conference. The award reflected Dixon’s efforts to create the Classroom Cupboard in her district as well as her efforts to encourage other districts to start pantries in their school systems.

Gulish explained statistics show kids who struggle with food insecurity are three times more likely to be faced with poor health, two times more likely to have ADHD and also more likely to miss school.

“I kept reading the statistic that 1 in 5 children are food insecure, and it kept playing in my head that in our classrooms of 25 kids, five of those kids were hungry and finding it hard to focus and perform and learn,” Dixon said.

The students in the Kindness Club and Outreach Club run the pantry by stocking shelves and filling orders. They also offer literature on other community resources, including assistance with utilities. Dixon encourages anyone who is interested in starting a food pantry within their school district to reach out to administration and start the conversation.

For more information on Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank visit pittsburghfoodbank.org or call 412-460-3663.

LISTEN: Montour High School's Classroom Cupboard