Over the last decade, an elementary school where generations of families have walked the same hallways has become a quiet lifeline for dozens of households each month.

At Stout Field Elementary School in Wayne Township, a pantry operates not just as a source of groceries, but as a community hub where teachers, parents and students help one another meet basic needs, so children can focus on learning.

The pantry serves between 50 and 72 families during its twice-monthly distribution days. An additional “everyday pantry” stocked with leftover items and donations allows staff to respond immediately when families need help outside of scheduled events.

“We see the child as a whole child,” said Casey Foust, who is a pantry organizer and social worker at the school. “We see food as a school supply. It’s more than just pencils and rulers. It’s food, too.”

The pantry’s roots go back roughly 15 years, when the school participated in a backpack program that sent bags of food home with students for the weekend. But that program came with high logistical costs and limited reach, so school leaders began pushing for a full pantry that could serve families directly.

Eventually, the idea gained support. Since then, the program has grown into a regular part of the school community.

For some families, the pantry provides their primary source of supplemental food. For others, it helps stretch budgets, so parents can afford other necessities, like gas for commuting to work, or a child’s glasses.

“You don’t have to be starving or have completely bare cupboards to come here,” Foust said. “These aren’t destitute people. These are people that are really trying to make end’s meet. It could be any of us.”

Organizers also hope the pantry provides supplemental support, so parents can provide items that make their children’s lives fulfilling — items like expensive sports equipment. 

“We want people to be able to afford the cleats and the shin guards and the music lessons if they can. And we want to help if we can,” Foust said.

That philosophy has helped remove some of the stigma often associated with food assistance programs. At Stout Field, the pantry is integrated into a tight-knit school community that sees kids through the majority of their childhood and spans generations. 

Office staff member and pantry organizer Caitlin Starcher said the K-6 school has long served as a family anchor for many generations in the neighborhood. She attended school there, as did her brother and father. 

“My grandpa was a coach here, my mom worked here, and now my kids go here,” Starcher said. “For most of the neighborhood, it’s a family building.”

Today, her own three children walk the same halls and help give back at the pantry. 

Because of those deep ties, the pantry operates more like a neighborhood gathering place. Families recognize the volunteers behind the tables, and that familiarity makes a difference.

“When I was younger, we didn’t always have things like this through the school to make it know my friends were eating,” she said. “Being able to give back and see those families I went to school with, and be able to use those resources available through Gleaners, it’s nice to see it come full circle.”

Next week on our Food for Thought blog, we’ll speak with Caitlin about how the on-site pantry at Stout Field helps provide a sense of comfort for her community and family.