The Parent Teacher Student Association, along with assistant principal Kevin Wallace and senior Jane Hurley, implemented a food pantry in order to provide necessary nourishment for students who may not be able to access it.
Earlier this year, PTSA market committee co-chair Sarah Shamlal contacted Wallace about adding a potential pantry to the school. Hurley, an IB Diploma candidate, had also corresponded with a few staff members regarding a potential food pantry.
“[Hurley was] looking for a CAS project, and she approached a couple staff members saying [she] had an idea,” Wallace said. “A bunch of teachers, myself included, were talking about the growing need in our building for this type of support. With those two forces coming together, this idea spawned and came about.”
With the help of Wallace and the PTSA, the food pantry, now called the Marshall Market, distributes approximately 20 bags of donations at the end of each week to those in need. Student volunteers meet in Student Services to assemble the bags.
“I hope to grow [the pantry] more throughout the year,” Hurley said. “I know we need to do a lot of work to spread the word. I want more people to know about [the Marshall Market], not only to donate, but […] if there are more people in need, I want them to find out about it so we can help them.”
According to the Fairfax County Public Schools website, an estimated 28 percent of all FCPS students are eligible to receive a free or reduced lunch. Both Shamlal and PTSA market co-chair Rachel Stott said over 17 percent of Marshall students qualify.
“We’re a high school, so [we have] to make sure all students are supported socially, emotionally and academically,” Wallace said. “One of those ways is being nourished. Students need to have the energy and the calories to make it through a day.”
People can donate food supplies like soup, macaroni and cheese, trail mixes, granola bars and snacks through the PTSA Amazon Wish List or in the main office. The Market has also collected necessities such as toothbrushes, toothpaste, soaps, deodorants and feminine hygiene products.
“If a student is hungry and there is not enough at home, they can talk with their counselor and get a bag of items,” Stott said. “It is hard to do your best academically if you are hungry. The Market is intended to address this issue and enable students to achieve their goals.”
The PTSA intends to broaden their offerings in the Market by contributing to the Hispanic Thanksgiving dinner and providing food to families in need over breaks. They also plan to purchase winter clothing for students who may not have access to them.
“We’ve had both food and monetary donations,” Shamlal said. “Everyone has been so generous […] It takes time to get the word out and build students’ confidence in the program. The market is new but ready to meet high demand.”
2018-10-23