In an effort to help support families in need in the school community, Weller Road Elementary School hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony on Jan. 12 to officially open a new food pantry. This food pantry is now sixth one opened at an MCPS school this school year to serve as an onsite resource to provide additional support to local students and families in need.
Weller Road is defined as a “community school,” which provides extra health, mental health, academic and extracurricular support services students and families need to flourish.
Montgomery County Councilmember Gabe Albornoz attended the ribbon cutting to highlight all who came together to make this effort possible.
A focus on health and wellness was an identified goal for all community schools based on the feedback received from community members and stakeholders. In 2022, Community Schools began leading the initiative of family markets or food pantries highlighting the need.
Thanks to the collaboration and partnership between the school system, Montgomery County Food Council, Capital Area Food Bank and MANNA, the decision was made to prioritize these markets and pantries at community schools.
The food pantry program provides participating schools with a monthly delivery of shelf-stable goods, fresh produce and/or perishables, and basic needs items like diapers.
Families can access the pantry twice a week on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
