RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — An area school for disadvantaged kids could use some help this holiday season. Some of the students don’t have a lot so the school is trying to make sure at least they have food.
“Our pantry is looking a little bare right now,” says Wade Puryear, the Vice President of Education at the UMFS Charterhouse School.
The school’s pantry could use a little love. It’s usually filled with food for students whose families can’t always provide what many of us take for granted.
“A lot of these kids come from impoverished backgrounds and they’re not able to afford day to day meals much less a family Christmas meal on Christmas day, so we’re just looking at basic needs of our kids,” adds Puryear.
Through the school backpack program, they’ve filled bags with 14 meals for students and their families. The food is meant to keep the kids fed through the ten-day winter break.
But filling the bags, emptied the pantry and now Charterhouse needs donations to restock.
According to Puryear, we know that kids don’t succeed if they don’t have their basic needs met.
“You can’t do well in algebra class if you’re hungry,” he explained.
The school feeds about 30 students throughout the year. Every weekend, kids take home bags with things like mac and cheese, soup and sometimes dessert. Right now, there is only enough food to get through December.
“We’re all trying to be unwaivering champs here for kids and families and we’d love to have more people join us on that mission.”
If you want to help, you can drop off non-perishable food items at the UMFS campus located at 3900 West Broad St. Donated items will be accepted at the organization’s Charterhouse School offices, which are located in the first major building on the left as you enter campus.
Or you can donate online through the link below, please include in the notes section, “Donation for the backpack snacks program.”
