-Editorial
Southwest High School students were recognized Friday for their work addressing food insecurity on campus through the Purple & Gold Pantry, a student-led program that provides food assistance to members of the school community.
During a recognition event at the Southwest High School Health Science Center, students involved in the project received certificates for their participation and were presented with an additional $1,000 grant from the Foundation for Impact on Literacy and Learning and the Albertsons Companies Foundation’s Nourishing Neighbors program.
The additional funding brings the total grant support provided to the school through the initiative to $2,000.
Southwest initially received a $1,000 grant through the Explore.Act.Tell. program, which encourages students in grades six through 12 to examine food insecurity in their communities and develop projects aimed at addressing the issue.
At Southwest, students participating in the Career Technical Education Health Science and Medical Technology Public Health Pathway, along with members of HOSA-Future Health Professionals, have worked with the Purple & Gold Pantry as part of the project.
Students help coordinate pantry operations, track inventory, organize donation drives, and prepare meal kits for families experiencing food insecurity. The project also allows students to examine connections between access to food and community health.
Community Health Worker student Azul Prieto said participating in the program helped her understand how food insecurity can affect students and families beyond the immediate issue of hunger.
“Through this project, I learned that everything is connected within a community,” Prieto said. “Although not everyone is going through the same thing, our actions can have a greater effect than we may think, including on people’s health.”
Prieto said reviewing information about food insecurity among students at Southwest made the issue more tangible for those participating in the project.
“What has been most meaningful to me was discovering what my schoolmates go through when we saw the numbers of food insecurity in our school,” Prieto said. “But we did not just learn; we took action.”
The Explore.Act.Tell. program is supported by the Foundation for Impact on Literacy and Learning, or FILL, in partnership with Nourishing Neighbors, a charitable program of the Albertsons Companies Foundation. The organizations have worked together since 2020 to support student projects addressing hunger and food insecurity across the country.
The program provides educational materials and financial support for students to research food insecurity and develop community-based projects. Organizers said the program is entering its seventh year.
Diane Barrett, executive director of FILL, said the program is intended to combine education with community involvement.
“The success of Explore.Act.Tell. reflects the passion and commitment of students and educators who are taking action in their communities,” Barrett said. “We’re inspired by the ways students are learning about food insecurity and turning that knowledge into meaningful change.”
Christy Duncan Anderson, president and executive director of the Albertsons Companies Foundation, said the organization supports efforts that address immediate food needs while encouraging students to learn more about the causes and effects of food insecurity.
“We’re proud to support Southwest High School and the students leading this important effort,” Anderson said. “The work students are doing today not only helps meet immediate needs, but also builds awareness and solutions that will strengthen communities for years to come.”
The additional $1,000 will allow Southwest High School to continue supporting the Purple & Gold Pantry and its food assistance activities while giving students additional opportunities to participate in community health and service projects.
