Harwood honor students open new food pantry with drive, Oct. 6-10

September 26, 2025  |  By Claire Pomer  |  Correspondent

Harwood’s new the food pantry is now open for donations. Courtesy photo

In accordance with the mission of its parent organization, Harwood Union High School’s chapter of the National Honor Society has opened a school food pantry. 

The pantry is meant to “create a one-stop access point for students who may be in need of food, household supplies, or clothing,” according to faculty advisor Tedin Lange. “It’s a low-barrier, convenient way for people to get what they need.” 

Stocked with non-perishable food, clothing, household supplies, and personal hygiene items, the pantry is open throughout the school day. 

Located behind the desk in the counseling office, it isn’t staffed by students, offering a private and judgment-free space to those in need. “There’s no need to worry about seeing classmates,” Lange said. 

School nurse Magge Stone presented the idea of a school food pantry in January, citing Winooski High School’s “Necessity Store” as her inspiration. “Schools are the epicenters of so many communities,” Stone said about Harwood’s food pantry in May, “and when people have basic needs met, they’ll be more available for learning and they’ll be more successful in school.” 

She said she noticed the school’s growing need for a space with resources available to students and suggested to the National Honor Society to run it. The organization’s four core pillars are scholarship, service, leadership, and character. 

The student leadership group is unique when it comes to membership: it starts the year with a “skeleton crew of seniors” who were accepted into the club during their junior year. This year’s skeleton crew is especially sparse, with only eight seniors making up the club until the induction ceremony scheduled for Nov. 13. It doesn’t reach its full membership for the school year until the new members begin to participate, often in November or December. 

For now, the Food Pantry is giving NHS seniors an activity to focus on while the club receives and reviews applications from prospective new juniors to add to the club later this fall. 

To celebrate the opening and to keep the pantry stocked, NHS will hold a drive during the week of Harvest Fest, Oct. 6-10. Non-perishable food, personal hygiene items, household supplies, and clothing (including winter clothes and shoes) will be accepted. The grade level that donates the most will win school Spirit Points.

Club members thank True North Evolution for their donation of clothes, Bisbee’s Hardware for their discounted shelving, and the Mad River Valley Rotary Club for their seed grant. An extra thank you goes to Wendy McDonough for championing this project in the community, assisting with set-up, and running a hygiene item drive among Mad River Valley Rotary members.

Donations for the food pantry from community members are welcome. Any donated items may be dropped off at Harwood’s front desk during school hours. 

Claire Pomer is a senior from Waterbury at Harwood Union High School.