The South Huntington Union Free School District and Stop & Shop unveiled an in-school food pantry at Walt Whitman High School to assist students and their families who are dealing with issues of food insecurity. The pantry, which will serve all of the students, from Pre-K through 12th grade in the district’s seven schools, is being supported by a $10,000 gift card donation from Stop & Shop that will enable the school to purchase the specific food items and other essential products that the students and their families need.
The opening of this in-school food pantry is most significant because of the economic diversity of the Walt Whitman High School student population. According to the most recent census, in 2020, the median household income of Huntington households was $131,519; however, 49% of the 5,676 students attending South Huntington district schools come from households that are below the poverty level and receive assistance for free breakfast and lunch programs.
"Stop & Shop’s sponsorship of the Wildcat Pantry has enabled us to expand our outreach to every elementary school and to the middle school allowing us to serve the entire community, not just the high school community,” said Walt Whitman High School Principal, Kenneth Costa. “There is some food insecurity within our diverse district. And our social workers and our student services and our guidance counselors do a phenomenal job in recognizing our families in need because it's hard to admit. It's very humbling when you have to come forward and say, I need help. And to the credit of the staff and the students here, with the help of Stop & Shop, we make it easier for them to do so."
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"We are so grateful that this food pantry as started by a Walt Whitman student, who has since graduated, but the Wildcat Pantry continues, and getting this significant donation from Stop & Shop ensures that,” said Dr. Vito M. D'Elia, Superintendent of Schools for the South Huntington Union Free School District. “We know this $10,000 donation is going to go to good use, and we are forever grateful that we have corporations out there that will support people in need, especially in our community. We're on different ends as far as socioeconomic status within our district. This initiative shows that a company like Stop & Shop cares about people here in South Huntington."
The Stop & Shop School Food Pantry Program was established to help limit barriers impacting students’ ability to succeed in the classroom by making sure that they have consistent access to food. Stop & Shop supports local schools’ existing food pantries or helps them establish a new one by providing gift card donations to help stock their shelves.
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“Stop & Shop is proud to support the efforts of The South Huntington Union Free School District and Walt Whitman High School. No student should have to worry about where their next meal will come from,” said Stefanie Shuman, External Communications Manager for Stop & Shop. “This food pantry will allow students to focus on their education and not their empty stomachs.”
“The food insecurities that impact many of the families in Huntington is a concern
for all of us. On a daily basis, we hear of more and more people in need,” said Huntington Town Supervisor, Ed Smyth. “What the students and administration of Walt Whitman High School and Shop & Stop have done with this food pantry is a shining example of what we can do when we think beyond our own four walls. This community service initiative will go a long way in teaching students the realities of life, the struggles of others and how their actions can make a difference.”
The Pantry will be open twice a month on Wednesdays from 2:30- 4:00PM and school officials say accommodations can be made at other times to meet the needs of students dealing with issues of food insecurity.
This will be the 5th school food pantry Stop & Shop is supporting on Long Island, the 51st in New York and the 101st across tristate. Stop & Shop is currently supporting 165 in-school food pantries across the five states it serves.
To learn more about Stop & Shop’s efforts to support hunger relief and give back to the communities it serves, please visit https://stopandshop.com/pages/our-purpose.
