GRAYLING – A group of Grayling High School (GHS) staff members recently established a pantry specifically for GHS students.
The Viking Pantry contains non-perishable food items, hygiene products and household necessities such as toilet paper, laundry detergent and dish soap. The pantry officially opened October 3. Students are given the opportunity to place confidential orders on a weekly basis, no questions asked.
The purpose of the pantry is to support disadvantaged students by keeping them fresh and fed, allowing them to focus on their education. The Viking Pantry is a project of Grayling High School’ Supporting Our Students (SOS) committee with help from the GHS Student Senate. The pantry is funded solely through the fund raising efforts of these two organizations and donations from within the community.
Upon deciding to create a pantry, the SOS committee began meeting in July. Fund raising plans were made and drop boxes were created. Drop boxes are conveniently located at the football field concession stand, outside the gymnasium, outside the auditorium and outside the front entrance of the school. Community members not able to drop off donations during the school day may still contribute via the drop boxes.
The SOS committee held a ‘community blitz’ to collect needed items for the pantry. Committee members and Student Senate volunteers solicited donations at Family Fare, Family Dollar and Kmart, all located in Grayling. The campaign netted several boxes of donated items, as well as cash to purchase items as needed.
A food drive was held during the high school’ homecoming week, and each class competed to earn daily spirit competition points by bringing in non-perishable food items. Superintendent Joe Powers got the staff involved by pledging his own donation if the staff beat the students in collecting pantry items. The food drive netted approximately 2,000 items for the pantry.
Upcoming fund raisers include bake sales on Nov. 12 and Feb. 4.
The SOS committee is also participating in the Spartan/Nash Stores’ ‘Direct Your Dollars’ campaign. Through this program, the committee can collect $150,000 worth of eligible store receipts to earn $1,000 for the organization. Local stores participating are Family Fare locations throughout northern Michigan. Receipts can be dropped off or mailed to Grayling High School.
