[dropcap]C[/dropcap]ollecting food for those in need is a role Wallace Middle School students and administrators take pride in.
In fact, it wasn’t long ago the campus was celebrated for donating more than 2,000-pounds of canned goods during the 2016-2017 school year to the Hays County Food Bank.
But Sarah Hodges, Wallace Middle School principal, and Dee Niedzielski, Wallace front desk clerk, understand the need goes far beyond a donation drive.
With the help of Kathy Alexander and her family, Hodges and Niedzielski paved the way for the creation of a little free pantry on the campus grounds. The pantry is stocked with food, toiletries and other essentials people may need.
Hodges and Niedzielski hope the pantry can not only assist those who may be food insecure, but continue to raise awareness of the issue.
“It’s going to be impactful in the way it inspires people about awareness of those who may be hungry in the community,” Niedzielski said. “And it may inspire more free pantries in the community.”
The idea of the food pantry began when Wallace administrators sought a community service project to complete. After a brainstorming session, one of the primary themes centered on the school’s status as a Hays County Food Bank donation drop-off point, which the campus has held for the past three years.
A motivating factor came during the school year when the campus was the victim of a break-in. Hodges said the break-in was “shocking,” but also showed the reality of poverty, as the suspect only stole donated canned goods.
“It broke my heart,” Hodges said. “I would give that man food and I would feed that man. The majority of our staff as well, if we knew his need.”
Armed with that knowledge, Hodges and Niedzielski settled on creating a little free pantry. The idea was based off of the “take a book, leave a book” ideology of little free libraries, which have become common across the country.
Niedzielski then turned to local Boy and Girl Scout troops to help with construction of the pantry.
Alexander, who has one boy and two girls in scouting, heard Niedzielski’s request and informed her husband about it. Soon, the family decided to take on the project themselves.
“We were excited because it’s something that can be beneficial,” Alexander said.
“We’ve had troubles in the past and had to rely on the community to help us out ... When we were in that place to give back, we wanted to do that.” Kathy Alexander
It didn’t take long for the Alexander family to build the pantry, which was constructed out of leftover wood.
The two-and-a-half foot tall structure, which took about seven to eight hours to complete, is about two feet by two-and-a-half feet wide, Alexander said.
During the process, Alexander’s husband, whose hobby is in woodworking, taught her son how to work the design on paper, lay it out, measure and use saws to cut the pieces. They turned to their daughters to help paint the pantry.
But the Alexanders also ensured their children understood the significance of the project, which is a different way to help those in need.
“We’ve had troubles in the past and had to rely on the community to help us out,” Alexander said. “When we were in that place to give back, we wanted to do that.”
Wallace’s little free pantry was officially installed last week. Within the pantry, Wallace administrators stocked dried food, such as ramen noodles, along with canned goods and bottles of water.
Other items included small toiletries such as a toothbrush, shampoo, feminine hygiene products and toilet paper.
“It goes back to necessity,” Hodges said. “If they’re here for food, what other needs are we unaware of as well?”
All three have noticed the pantry has been used since its installation last week. But all three have also seen that community members have restocked the pantry as well.
Hodges hopes to use the pantry as a way to teach students about how they can help their community.
“We want them to be extraordinary citizens. It’s part of our mission,” Hodges said. “Everything we do is an educational opportunity. This is an example of bringing life into the classroom and bringing the classroom into life.”
