For Immediate Release

Monday, April 1, 2019

Media Contact: Benjamin Paulin
Phone: 781-428-3299
Email: [email protected]

Medway Elementary School to Host Ribbon Cutting for In-School Food Pantry

MEDWAY — Superintendent Armand Pires is pleased to announce that a ribbon cutting ceremony will be held this week to officially open the Burke-Memorial Elementary School’s new in-school food pantry for students in need.

“While the school week ends on Friday, unfortunately like all school districts, some of our students do not have access to proper nutrition when they go home for the weekend,” Superintendent Pires said. “The new food pantry will serve as a great way to ensure that all students in need have healthy eating options at home.”

WHEN:

Friday, April 5 at 10 a.m.

WHERE:

Burke-Memorial Elementary School, 16 Cassidy Lane, Medway

WHO:

• Superintendent Armand Pires
• Principal Amanda Luizzi
• Medway Schools Wellness Director Ryan Sherman
• Food pantry student volunteers
• Director Susan Dietrich, Medway Village Church Food Pantry

WHAT:

School and food pantry officials will gather at the Burke-Memorial School for a ribbon cutting ceremony to officially open the food pantry on Friday, April 5.

The pantry will be staffed by parents, students and community volunteers working alongside volunteers from the Medway Village Church Food Pantry.

This past summer, Medway Public Schools officials partnered with representatives of the YMCA and the Medway Village Church Food Pantry to create a program that would supply students in need with food for the weekend.

In January, Stop and Shop awarded Medway Public Schools a $1,600 grant to help build shelves, purchase backpacks and buy food for the new program.

The optional program will start by serving a group of about 15 students. Those students will be among 50 to 70 children who are eligible for free and reduced lunches at the school.

Each week, volunteer staff will put backpacks full of food together for the select students who will benefit the most from the program. Those students will go to the pantry before the end of the school day on Friday and will receive backpacks filled with simple foods that students can eat on their own, like granola bars and apple sauce, as well as meals they can prepare with an adult, like a pasta dinner.

“A lot of work as gone into getting this program off the ground since we started talking about it last summer,” Medway Public Schools Wellness Director Ryan Sherman said. “We are appreciative of everyone who helped to make the food pantry a reality and would like to give our sincerest thanks to those who donated food and their time to this worthwhile endeavor.”

Those interested in volunteering can email Sherman at [email protected].

Those interested in donating food items to support the new program can do so by leaving bags marked “Food Pantry” at the church office of Medway Village Church at 170 Village St.

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