ANKENY, Iowa — With nearly a quarter of Ankeny Community School District's students qualifying for free or reduced lunch, school social worker Leah Clark knew something could be done to help.
"I went to the principal, and I said, 'Hey, I would really like to have a food pantry.' And she said, 'If you can find the space, then I will let you have a food pantry,'" said Clark, who works at Northview Middle School.
With a little creativity and an endless supply of passion, Clark found the space in the counselor's suite of offices, transforming a room into a full-stocked pantry.
The Northview food pantry is one of two now open in the district, with all food supplied by the Food Bank of Iowa. A grant from the organization also provided both pantries with a fridge and freezer to store perishables.
Personal hygiene and cleaning supplies are also provided at no cost.
"At a time when everyone is feeling a pinch in the pocketbook, everything is at an expense that seems unreasonable… we want to make sure that they have available a variety of options," said social emotional learning specialist Shawn Beirman.
As of now, only Northview families can access the school's pantry, but there is no income requirement.
At the district's second pantry, located at 306 Southwest School Street, students in Ankeny's Beyond High School program get to work on delivery days. Joshua Unguec takes inventory, while other students bring boxes in from the loading dock and help stock shelves.
For Unguec, the opportunity is helping him gain valuable work skills, but beyond that, a deep sense of care for those he attends school with.
"The meaning to me, is like, to help people that are in need... whatever it is given to them that can nurture their bodies," he told Local 5. "It makes me feel happy, and to help the community."
The Beyond and Summit High School pantry is available to students in the programs and their families.
Beirman told Local 5 that the food pantry program will soon be expanding. They will soon open a new site at the Terrace Learning Center preschool.