Our school’s food pantry has become a cornerstone of support for students and families, particularly during the holiday season. What began as a small initiative has grown into a vital resource, helping to address food insecurity in the school community.
“I want to say that it started somewhere around 2018, officially,” said Principal Shawn DeRose. “Norma Foti and the PTSA officially started it a year or two before my arrival and have built it to what it is today.”
The pantry was born from a recognition of a pressing need.
“At that time, I was the President of the PTSA, and it was brought to my attention that there was a need in our school to support our students who are food insecure,” said Norma Foti, the pantry’s founder and manager.
Since its founding six years ago, the pantry has grown significantly. Now operating as a market-style program, it supports approximately seventy-five families per distribution. These events, held twice a month, on Wednesdays from 3:55 – 5 p.m., during the school year, provide families with non-perishable and perishable foods, as well as personal hygiene and household items.
Junior Nayeli Escobar has seen the pantry’s impact firsthand: “I know friends that have used the food pantry, and it honestly helps them out so much,” she said. “That little extra food helps them spend less on groceries.”
For Foti, the pantry’s mission is twofold: “The mission of the pantry is to support the AHS students who are food insecure in a dignified manner and to raise awareness about food insecurity in our community.”
The pantry relies on a mix of donations and partnerships to stay stocked.
“We receive some donations through collections, our donation list, and our Amazon Wish List,” Foti said. “However, most of the items we distribute are either donated by our community partnerships or purchased in bulk with financial donations from community members and organizations.”
Each distribution involves a dedicated team of about 10 volunteers, including students, staff, and community members. Volunteers take on tasks like restocking shelves, assisting families with their items, and greeting visitors.
Their efforts help create a warm, welcoming environment for those in need.
“The volunteers are crucial to our work,” said Foti. “Their roles vary, but they all share a commitment to making the experience supportive for our families.”
The holidays are a particularly meaningful time for the pantry. With many families feeling added financial strain during this season, the pantry works to provide extra support, ensuring no one is left behind.
But the pantry is not the only way we support our students, programs like the holiday gift drive (winning for giving) and additional community initiatives also work to provide resources and uplift families during times of need. These efforts reflect a larger commitment to ensuring that students have the tools and support necessary to succeed.
The pantry is more than just a place to distribute food—it’s a community. “I don’t have one specific memory, but it is the whole experience that I love,” she said. “The pantry is a community within our greater school community. It’s the relationships and the people I have gotten to meet, the kindness and hope I have seen.”
She also highlighted the importance of partnerships in making the pantry successful. “The organizations who support our pantry through our partnerships are doing amazing work in our greater community,” Foti said. “None of which I would have been exposed to otherwise.”
As the pantry continues its work, its impact extends far beyond providing food. It brings people together, fosters dignity, and reflects the best of what a united community can accomplish.
“I love the fact that we have the community, the staff, and our students all working together, to benefit Annandale. It’s my absolute favorite” principal Shawn DeRose said.
During the season of giving, the food pantry stands as a beacon of hope and support for all who need it.
