HUNGER HEROES: Penn Yan Central School District
By Faith Adeola
“Even though I was tired at the end of each day of distribution, it was a good kind of tired. Never did I think of it as a job, I thought of it as an opportunity to connect with some of our students’ families and keep in contact with them during a very trying time.” – Mrs. Pamela J. Fingar, Reading Specialist
When the COVID-19 pandemic hit the state in March of 2020, Penn Yan Central School District in the Finger Lakes region quickly pivoted to an alternative meal distribution that focused on meal pick-up at school. However, after hearing from families that were having trouble getting to the school to pick up meals, the team shifted to delivering meals directly to student homes. The new method utilized five busses and staff volunteers who delivered the meals to students.
The school district delivered food twice week to ensure that each child was able to access school meals throughout the school year. In Summer 2021, the district continued to feed students through summer meal sites held at not only schools but also parks and libraries throughout the district.
Since the start of the pandemic, the district has faced serious challenges, from staffing to financial constraints. Despite these challenges staff and volunteers felt blessed to come into work and make a difference. Volunteers stated how grateful they were for such a unique opportunity and that some families left them cards, notes and even brought flowers. Jill, another volunteer “felt it was a way to see and connect with our district’s families and help them find a piece of mind with meals provided during this difficult time.”
School staff continue to ensure kids in their districts are fed not only at school but also at home. We are forever grateful for their commitment to eliminating food insecurity.
At No Kid Hungry New York, we thank Dana and all the food service staff members at Penn Yan for going above and beyond to feed kids and keep their spirits up during a difficult time. We are grateful to have been able to support their work.