Church Helps Plant Seeds for Duncanville High School Food Pantry

Many object lessons begin with seeds, but this one started growing in a closet. In the fall of 2019, at the Duncanville ISD Student Health Advisory Council (SHAC), Dana Harper, Director of Counseling, presented a new idea: the students and their families sometimes need emergency assistance for food that the local food pantry could not meet. The pantry’s hours of operation sometimes made accessibility different for students and their families. The counselors at the high school wanted to address this need. They found a closet at the school that could be used to store limited food and basic hygiene items, so they decided to get started.

Schools are not usually considered charitable organizations, but a Bishop’s Storehouse Humanitarian Grant was arranged through members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Duncanville. Within a few weeks, cases of canned goods, deodorant, razors, and feminine sanitary supplies arrived for the students.

Within a few months, however, COVID lockdowns began, and schools that closed for spring break didn’t reopen for months; over a year later, the pantry was back in business and thriving.

At the last SHAC meeting of 2021, Rhonda Cole, one of the Duncanville ISD social workers, presented an update. Outgrowing its modest space, the Panther Pantry and Clothing Closet had its own building. An unused portable—transformed with shelves and racks—holds food, water, hygiene kits, and age-appropriate clothes for students. Soon, the Church provided an additional grant. As with all good seeds, other branches have sprouted: a local sorority and other church groups now support this project; student volunteers help sort and pack supplies. 

Mrs. Cole continues her work with this project and explained, “The pantry is used on a regular basis from month to month. It is most helpful at the beginning of each semester. We often have new homeless families that have moved into our area at these times. However, after winter storms the past two years, we were able to help many of our families who were displaced. These families were very appreciative of the assistance because the local outreach ministry was closed due to storm damage.”

Sierra King, a Duncanville ISD student and a member of the National Society of High School Scholars, added her family’s story: “After the winter storm, we had to live at the Hilton Garden Inn during repairs. Mrs. Cole called my mom and made sure we had food and other things while there. I am very appreciative to Mrs. Cole and other district employees who helped us during that time.”

While the Panther Pantry addresses only crisis situations, other factors affect student performance. Food insecurity can happen even without homelessness. Refugee status is yet another issue for some. There are agencies that address these situations, but school systems are on the front lines assessing their students’ immediate needs. 

For the 2021-2022 school year, Mrs. Cole requested additional food and hygiene supplies. Her team had expected to serve 200 families, but the number was 244 and 411 individuals. Orders were picked up at the storehouse in January and May. Dozens of volunteer hours were logged as well.

That first seed for this pantry—planted, nourished, and supported—has become an excellent example of a community working together and reflecting the pride of a dedicated school system.