Hy-Vee, Harvesters – The Community Food Network and KC Dream Center opened a revitalized food pantry at M.E. Pearson Elementary School, marking the first on-site school food pantry in Kansas that Hy-Vee has launched in partnership with a Feeding America-affiliated food bank.
The pantry is expected to serve about 150 families each month in Wyandotte County, where about one in four children need food assistance.
Leadership from Hy-Vee, Harvesters, Kansas City Kansas Public Schools and KC Dream Center held a ribbon-cutting March 10 to mark the opening. The pantry also received upgraded shelving as part of the revitalization.
Chris Wiltfong, Kansas City-area Hy-Vee store director, said the pantry addresses both hunger and academic readiness.
“Fighting childhood hunger is a big part of our mission at Hy-Vee. Opening a food pantry at M.E. Pearson Elementary helps local families put food on their tables and makes it easier for students to learn,” Wiltfong said.
Jury Paulson, director of community impact at Harvesters, tied food access to educational outcomes.
“Research has shown that access to healthy food is critical to learning outcomes for kids, so we couldn’t be happier to be an integral piece of making this partnership happen,” Paulson said.
Lori Cooper, principal of M.E. Pearson Elementary, said the pantry’s impact extends beyond nutrition.
“A school food pantry is about more than providing meals. It’s about dignity, compassion and removing barriers so our students can focus on learning, growing and reaching their full potential. When we ensure that basic needs are met, we create stronger students, stronger families and a stronger community,” Cooper said.
What comes next
Hy-Vee said more in-school food pantries are planned as the grocer expands its school hunger initiative. The employee-owned chain operates more than 560 business units across nine Midwestern states and employs more than 70,000 people.
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