Food For Kids Pantries Keeping High School Students Fed

Destiny Lee's 2-year-old son Gabriel is her entire world. This young single, working mom and student wants to make sure Gabriel gets the right nutrients for his growing body.

Wednesday, October 2nd 2013, 10:02 pm

By: News 9


Destiny Lee's 2-year-old son Gabriel is her entire world. This young single, working mom and student wants to make sure Gabriel gets the right nutrients for his growing body. Destiny knows she can get that at the Del City High School food pantry.

It's a little grocery store where high school students can pick up canned goods, snacks, even frozen foods.

"It's nice to have a whole meal instead of just something here and there," Destiny said.

Dozens of Del City students rely on the pantry. Parent Education Coordinator Heather Johnson said the need is huge.

"When you think about kids coming to school and we're expecting them to pass state tests," Johnson said. "And they didn't have breakfast so they can't stay away. And they don't have money for lunch."

Without the pantry, Johnson said some of the student and their families would have little or nothing to eat at home.

"If I can feed them and get them through high school and they can get a high school diploma," Johnson said. "They have a shot at real life. They have a shot at not living in poverty."

A recent Del City graduate, Destiny is breaking the cycle. She works and goes to college. She's grateful for the pantry.

"I just want to thank you. It's not just for me, but my family and the other families out there who use the Food Bank," Destiny said. "It helps us out a whole lot and it's nice to know that you care."

Del City is just one of 91 middle and high school pantries the Food Bank supports across Oklahoma. In 2011, there was just one. We showed how a tiny food pantry in a football helmet room turned into a school pantry for students at Putnam City West High School, the first in the Regional Food Bank's Food for Kids Program. 

Read more about News 9 and Food For Kids.

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