The Mercer County Food Bank is partnering with First Presbyterian Church of Sharon and Sharon City Schools to launch the School Pantry program at all elementary schools within the district.

The program aims to address food insecurity among students in the district.

“For years, the Sharon Schools Backpack Program got food to hungry kids,” said Dr. Reverend Glenn Hink, First Presbyterian Church. “However, over the past few years, we discovered that ‘one size does not fit all.’ The Sharon Schools Pantry Program is more efficient and effective in meeting the particular food insecurity needs of kids and their families,” he added.

The School Pantry program provides access to nutritious food for students five days a week at the following locations:

  • Case Avenue Elementary School, 36 Case Avenue
  • Musser Elementary School, 500 Cedar Ave
  • Westhill Elementary School, 301 Ellsworth St.

“School Pantry is a new child hunger initiative of Mercer County Food Bank that’s aimed at addressing the growing concern of child hunger, as over 20% of children residing in Mercer County don’t know where their next meal will come from,” said Rebecca Page, Executive Director of Mercer County Food Bank.

Sharon High School Nurse and School Pantry Coordinator, Lisa Fox, said that food insecurity can impact a child's ability to concentrate, learn and succeed in school.