Walking down the Social Studies Module, the hallway adorned with art and maps brings history alive, but it is also a place of support—where students in need can find help or simply be uplifted by a warm smile.
After the pandemic, the Social Studies department began a meaningful “tradition” by introducing a food pantry inside the school. The food pantry is set up in the Social Studies office, with food items generously donated by clubs, supermarkets, and members of the local community. These food supplies are carefully stocked and monitored in the closets of the Social Studies office by staff around the school, including Mina Liakou, a school aide who works in the Social Studies department, as well as Fatima Ghazal and Isabel Cataldi, school aides from the Guidance Department.
“At first, we were all asked by Mr. Abood if we were willing to help out,” Liakou told The Pilot staff.
“Teachers helped him during the process too, but teachers have to teach classes” Fatima added.
Having a freer schedule, they were able to help out and take on a more heavy role than other staff, with the food distribution happening almost every three weeks, depending on the amount of food donated. Before any distribution, the team meets together to check the expiration dates of all packaged food and stock them into the closets and the drawers that are sorted by the time of the expiration date.
The food pantry is usually hosted during periods 6-10, where on pantry days Liakou, Cataldi, , and Ghazal come into the office early and set up. During these periods, students line up in front of the office doors, where the team would delegate roles and assist students to fill a bag of food to bring home.
“In the beginning, there were fewer kids—about fifty to seventy—but now we’re up to about three hundred, and it keeps growing each time,” Liakou told The Pilot staff. “As demand increases, [we try] to bring in as much food as possible,” Ghazal noted. The team hopes the pantry will continue to reach even more students and families in need.
While the pantry is about providing food, the interactions between the team and students are just as important. The pantry creates a unique environment—a source of light and hope.
“Believe me, when they take the food, I see the light in their eyes,” Fatima shared.
To help students feel more comfortable, the team engages in fun, simple conversations—offering cooking tips, joking around, and making the atmosphere feel lighter to make students more at ease.
The food pantry is more than just a service. It has become a vital part of our school community. It brings people together—students and staff —to work together, support one another, and work toward making our little world a brighter place.
