Food for Thought is a student run organization that works to provide food, hygiene products, and clothing to our community. Students in the program collaborate everyday in first period and provide drive through pickups for families that have ordered food.
Students and families interested in utilizing the services of the program can find QR codes around the school building. These QR codes allow families to make an order and organize an anonymous pick up.
Apart from food, Food for Thought offers hygiene products such as deodorant, toothpaste, feminine products, and clothing. Food for Thought offered winter coats during the snow storm earlier this school year, and the program also offers free prom and homecoming attire to students through the Cinderella program.
The Food for Thought students look forward to using this grant to support the food insecure population in our community. Johnson relays information about the food needs in Rockbridge county.
“A small bit of data collected before the Covid-19 pandemic told us around one third of RCHS students are at risk of being food-insecure. We believe that number has likely risen because of the pandemic and data collection errors,” Johnson said.
Recently, Food for Thought received the largest grant the program has ever received. The students applied for a grant through the Gaddsen Trust, which is run through Grace Episcopal Church. Sophomore Lily Johnson reflects on the significance of the grant.
“This is the largest grant Food for Thought has ever received and it’s a very generous contribution that will help us achieve our goals in the future,” Johnson said.
Johnson explains what the grant will be used for.
“We are using it specifically to expand our operation in the room for racks to hang up dresses, freezers, new shelving for food and more.” Johnson said.
The grant was discovered because one of the students in the program attends Grace Episcopal Church and was encouraged to apply. Sophomore Sarah Edgar was the driving force on attaining the grant, as she completed and wrote most of the application.
Senior student-manager Elsa Kerin-Rice was also very involved and helped Edgar review the application and responses.
Food for Thought students will continue working to provide food for the Rockbridge county community using their grant to expand their reach.
