Creating a Welcoming Space for Students

For the student volunteers at Maryvale High School’s campus food pantry, helping their classmates begins with creating a space where everyone feels welcome.

The pantry began after Kelli Cookfair, the school social worker, saw an opportunity to better support older students and their families.

With support from FeedMore WNY, the pantry now provides food access for students in sixth through twelfth grade. Volunteers help keep the space organized, stocked and welcoming.

Students help unpack deliveries, sort food, restock shelves and make the pantry easier to navigate. For Irielle, that attention to detail is an important part of creating a positive experience for everyone who visits.

“As an artist, I try to make things look presentable,” Irielle says. “Especially making sure everything looks in order for everyone to be like, ‘Oh, this is where this is,’ and to guide their eyes to something that they want.”

Through their work in the pantry, students have also learned more about the needs within their school community.

“You have power, and you can change other people’s lives, and give them the resources that they need,” says Logan, a student volunteer.

For these student volunteers, the pantry has become a place to serve their classmates, learn from one another and strengthen their school community.