CCSD21 launches food pantry thanks to grant, donations

Community Consolidated School District 21 is providing weekend food boxes to district families in need, thanks to a $25,000 grant from No Kid Hungry and donations from families, staff, and vendors with which the district works.

The food boxes provide pantry essentials and fresh produce to families in need and supplement the District’s weekday breakfast and lunch distribution to children. CCSD21 has distributed 250 family food boxes each of the last four weeks and will continue distribution into June. Since weekday meal distribution began on March 16, CCSD21 has served an average of 3,500 students daily with a peak of 4,336 students on one day.

“We are incredibly grateful to No Kid Hungry, our staff members, families, community, and corporate partners for their donations to make our family food boxes possible,” said Dr. Michael Connolly, Superintendent of CCSD21. “The COVID-19 pandemic has affected all families in different ways. Thanks to our community’s support, we are able to nourish our students over the weekend and reduce food insecurity.”

The $25,000 grant from No Kid Hungry provided foundational funding to get the CCSD21 food box program up and running. The Parent-Teacher Organizations (PTOs) of CCSD21’s three middle schools, Cooper Middle School, Holmes Middle School, and London Middle School, donated $750 each in recognition of the 8th grade class of 2020. The Field Elementary School PTO also donated $1,000. CCSD21 staff members have donated more than $7,500, as well.

Additional donations from corporate partners underscore the vendors’ commitment to the CCSD21 community. OrganicLife, CCSD21’s food service provider, donated $15,000; and ARCON Associates, Gilbane Building Company, and Nicholas & Associates, CCSD21’s construction partners, each donated $2,000.

To donate to the family food box program, please visit ccsd21.org/katiesamsel.