Cache Community Food Pantry tests program to provide food to students in need

Sometimes there are no granola bars. Sometimes there is no ramen.

Cache Community Food Pantry organizers acknowledge there have been a few hiccups since launching a program three months ago to help students in need have a consistent supply of food available at school.

But despite some stocking issues, they said, the program has been a success.

“We started looking at the numbers of students on the free and reduced food programs,” said Jake Netzley, the warehouse manager at the pantry. “In Cache County School District it is just under 30 percent, and in the Logan City School District it is 56 percent.”

Pantries have been stocked with food from the program in 29 of the 33 schools in the Cache County and Logan School districts, said Matt Whitaker, the director of the food pantry.

According to Netzley, many teachers would pay for food for these students out of their own pockets.

“They would spend a lot of money trying to help these kids,” Netzley said.

Kids who are hungry can have trouble staying on task, so the program has improved behavior, Netzley said. He also said academic success is expected to benefit from the program as well.