Douglas County welcomes 2026 summer interns and unveils 'Mini Food Pantry' cohort project

The Douglas County Board of Commissioners on July 7 recognized the county’s 2026 summer interns and heard a presentation on the interns’ cohort project, the Douglas County Mini Food Pantry.

Aaron Armfield, a sophomore pre‑law major and a summer intern in Commissioner Martin Raxton’s office, introduced the class and said internships ‘‘offer students the chance to see how policy decisions become action,’’ calling the program ‘‘a real opportunity to bridge what we learn in the classrooms with practical responsibilities of public service.’’

Alyssa Blacknall, a rising freshman at Princeton University and a member of the intern cohort, described the Mini Food Pantry project as a network of small, accessible pantries stocked with nonperishable items and operated on a ‘‘take what you need, leave what you can’’ model. She said the initiative ‘‘was created to strengthen food security and promote community’’ and that it will continue as an ongoing project of the Douglas County Youth Commission.

The chair and several commissioners praised the interns for their caliber and commitment, encouraged them to use county mentors and resources, and thanked the staff who organized the program, including Dionne Penn, Ashana Bai, Wendy Caudle and Evette/Yvette Jones for communications support. The board and staff posed for a group photograph following remarks.

No official action was required for the recognition or the cohort presentation; the board’s remarks focused on workforce development, civic engagement and continued county support for the youth program.

The Mini Food Pantry project will proceed under the Youth Commission’s oversight; the presentation did not specify launch dates, budget figures or exact pantry locations.