News release
The Santa Clarita Valley Food Pantry has expanded its partnerships with local schools, providing food and essential pantry staples to the William S. Hart Union High School District, Sulphur Springs Union School District and Newhall School District, the nonprofit organization announced in a news release.
The collaborative effort helps ensure students and families experiencing food insecurity have access to nutritious food and additional support through schools across the SCV, the release said.
By working directly with local school districts, the pantry can help stock school-based resources and wellness centers and provide another avenue of support for students and families who may be experiencing hardship, the release said.
“No child in our community should face the challenge of learning on an empty stomach,” Andrew Taban, board president of the SCV Food Pantry, said in the release. “Access to food is fundamental to academic success, and expanding our partnerships across our school districts allows us to reach even more students and families. Our schools are at the heart of our community, and we are proud to work alongside them to ensure students have the resources they need to learn, grow and succeed.”
The partnership brings together school districts serving students at different stages of their education and in communities throughout the SCV, creating a broader network through which food and essential resources can reach families, the release said.
“Our schools see firsthand the many factors that can affect a student’s ability to be successful, and having access to basic necessities is an important part of supporting the whole student,” Michael Vierra, superintendent of the William S. Hart Union High School District, said in the release. “We appreciate the Santa Clarita Valley Food Pantry’s continued partnership and its commitment to helping our students and families access resources when they need them.”
“Supporting students means recognizing that their well-being extends beyond the classroom,” Catherine Kawaguchi, superintendent of the Sulphur Springs Union School District, said in the release. “When families have access to food and other essential resources, students are better positioned to focus on learning and thrive at school. We are grateful to the SCV Food Pantry for investing in the well-being of our students and the families we serve.”
“Schools are trusted places for families, which makes partnerships like this especially meaningful,” Leticia Hernandez, superintendent of the Newhall School District, said in the release. “By bringing additional food resources directly into our school communities, we can help connect families with support in a familiar and accessible environment. We are thankful to the Santa Clarita Valley Food Pantry for its commitment to serving our students and families.”
“It is a privilege to work alongside our local school districts to support students and their families,” Peter Warda, executive director of the SCV Food Pantry, said in the release. “Food insecurity does not stop at the doors of our pantry, and neither should our mission. By building relationships with districts throughout the Santa Clarita Valley, we are bringing resources closer to the people who need them and helping remove one more barrier that can stand between a student and their education. Supporting our students is an investment in the future of our entire community.”
