SHHS To Host Second Annual Thanksgiving Food Pantry Distribution Event

For the second year in a row students and staff at Sleepy Hollow High School (SHHS) will be distributing Thanksgiving meals to families in need. The event will be held November 20 from 4 - 5 p.m. at the Food Concession Stand at SHHS. Last year 73 families were served meals, this year more than 100 are expected to benefit from this event.

SHHS is home to a community pantry that hosts weekly food distribution year-round. It is generously run by students and staff volunteers and serves families throughout the district. Currently, 212 families are registered with the pantry and can sign up weekly to receive assistance. For the holidays the pantry sets up a special distribution to ensure all families can properly celebrate and that no one goes hungry.

The pantry relies on the efforts of the community, through food drives and monetary donations throughout the year, because of this the food pantry is able to stay in operation. The experiential learning class shops with the funds that are raised to purchase additional items needed for distribution. SHHS also partners with various institutions to fill their pantry such as TaSH Famers Market, for fresh produce from June to November, and Union Church of Pocantico Hills, who hosts a weekly food drive.

“Feeding Westchester is one of our largest partners, and we would not be able to serve as many families as we do without their help,” Jacqueline Geoghegan, Founder/Director of the Food Pantry, said appreciatively.

For the Thanksgiving event to run smoothly, approximately 25 volunteers will be on hand to pack and distribute meals. To ensure privacy, recipients of the food donations pick up in a separate area from where the bags are packed.

This year SHHS has partnered with Kendal on Hudson, who is donating 85 bags of food for families for Thanksgiving. The bags will include dinner rolls, pies, cranberry sauce, stuffing, instant potatoes, gravy, four cans of vegetables, and a drink.

“We will enhance that with fresh produce, chicken, and baking items such as flour, sugar, and more,” said Mrs. Geoghegan.

In an effort to prevent food waste, families are asked to sign up weekly to request a bag.
The form is open Tuesday - Saturday and can be found here: https://hs.tufsd.org/for-parents/shhs-food-pantry

All families must be registered with the SHHS Food Pantry in order to request a bag. To register, you must have a child living with you who is currently enrolled in the Public Schools of the Tarrytowns, or a graduate of the class of 2023. If you have not already registered with the pantry and would like to do so, please call the HS main office at 914-631-8838 or email jgeoghegan@tufsd.org.

The next holiday distribution will be held on 12/18.