An area hunger relief agency is working to call attention to school based food pantries. Second Harvest spokesman Kris Tazelaar says the food pantry they support at Merrill Elementary School illustrates a broader need in the area. He says many families struggle to provide nutritious food for their children judging from the high percentage of students qualifying for free or reduced lunches at school. He says it only makes sense to support a school based pantry because schools are typically at the center of a community. Tazelaar says a recent grant from the Stateline Community Foundation is helping further Second Harvest’s work at Merrill Elementary.
