Photo: Chaiel Schaffel/WBZ NewsRadio
QUINCY, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) — A new food pantry officially opened at Point Webster Middle School in Quincy Wednesday.
The Point’s Grab and Go Pantry will serve students at the Point Webster Middle and Clifford Marshall Elementary schools.
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The Stop & Shop School Food Pantry Program donated $15,000 to support the pantry, which Quincy Superintendent Kevin Mulvey says will anonymously feed 40 families a month.
"This food pantry will significantly assist our students, particularly those students who don’t know where their next meal is coming from," Mulvey told WBZ NewsRadio.
1 of 2 Photo: Chaiel Schaffel/WBZ NewsRadio
2 of 2 Photo: Chaiel Schaffel/WBZ NewsRadio
According to Mulvey, families are often embarrassed to ask for help with food insecurity, which has been a problem for the school district in the past.
"I think obviously it just goes back to the stigma of poverty within any community," Mulvey said.
And that stigma ends up affecting how students perform in school.
"Hungry kids, students that are worried about what they’re going to eat when they get home, can’t do the best that they absolutely can do," said Mulvey.
Aisha Anum is one of the eighth grade students who helped organize and bag the pantry’s food.
"I just enjoy helping people, so it helps a lot of families and it’s fun to work with my classmates," Aisha said.
WBZ’s Chaiel Schaffel (@CSchaffelWBZ) reports.
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