News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
The Putnam Education Partnership Foundation has opened a new food pantry at Jere Whitson Elementary School to fight food insecurity.
PEP Foundation Executive Director Katelyn Steakley said the foundation noticed a hunger barrier at the school.
“Jere Whitson has a unique situation,” Steakley said. “They have 206 children who are on our backpack program which is 100 more than any of our other locations. So the need there is exponentially higher than the other campuses that we serve.”
Steakley said food insecurity continues to be a problem as one in five elementary-aged students in Putnam County are struggling with food insecurity. Steakley said a child’s development is drastically impacted if they do not enjoy good nutrition.
“From the research, we know that students who don’t have critical nutrition in their developmental years, especially in those elementary age years their brains don’t develop in the same way as peers who do,” Steakley said. “So there are literal deficits in the brains of students and children who are experiencing food insecurity.”
Steakley said the food pantry was first implemented in November. Steakley said due to holidays and school closures, she is still unclear how helpful the food pantry has been.
“It’s hard to say how many families have accessed the pantry at this time,” Steakley said. “I know that the school staff has been very supportive and have indicated it has been a huge blessing for us to be able to provide this service and we are excited to continue to do that.”
Steakley said the foundation has several other food pantries throughout the school system. Steakley said she encourages the community to donate non-perishable foods to the food pantry as it not only helps a child but also helps a family as well.
