At the Brandon Valley School District 49-2 board meeting on Nov. 13, Brandon resident Lisa Marceau urged community members and board officials to support the Brandon Food Pantry’s annual fundraiser on Nov. 21, saying monetary donations are “significantly down” and the pantry needs about $12,000 beyond expected fundraising to sustain operations.

Marceau, who identified her address as 1325 Parkview Place, asked attendees to consider purchasing individual tickets ($45) or a table of eight ($360) and provided the pantry’s PO Box and street address for donations. “Support them financially; food is great but they can buy three times as much for every dollar you give,” she said.

Marceau also raised a separate safety concern at district athletic events, asking the board to consider installing handrails and defined steps in the stadium seating to help elderly and disabled spectators. She noted that some attendees use walkers and that lack of handrails and steps increases the risk of injury.

The board did not take immediate action on either request during the meeting. The public-comment appeal came during the community-input portion of the agenda and was followed by the board’s regular business items and financial reports.