Chesterfield food bank launches School Pantry Program to help local students

CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) -- Chesterfield Food Bank Outreach Center (CFBOC) is helping fight food insecurity throughout the county with a School Pantry Program launching next week.

According to a release from the center, more than 50% of students at Chesterfield County Public Schools (CCPS) are given free or reduced lunches. The new program aims to focus on helping students get food for meals outside of school.

The School Pantry Program is launching with the help of Chesterfield County Administrator Joseph Casey and Superintendent of Chesterfield County Schools John Murray, and will make free snacks, meal options and personal care items available for CCPS students from elementary through high school.

There are already several schools participating in the School Pantry Program, but the center hopes to include more throughout the year. The current school list features:

• Chesterfield Recovery Academy
• A.M. Davis Elementary
• Hening Elementary
• Salem Church Middle
• Matoaca Middle
• Falling Creek Middle
• Matoaca High
• Thomas Dale High (both campuses)
• Carver Middle
• Hopkins Elementary

Community members are invited to join the official launch of the School Pantry Program alongside county leaders and staff from the center at J.G. Hening Elementary on Tuesday, March 25 from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m.

Several officials with the county and school system will be attending the event to answer public questions about the program. For more information about the event, the School Pantry Program and other community food distribution programs, visit the CFBOC website.