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District reports 3,000 items donated at ‘Pack the Pantry’ as Community Schools expand
Summary
Assistant Superintendent Brooke Kensler said a recent ‘Pack the Pantry’ event at Kroger collected about 3,000 food items; the district plans a study visit to Cincinnati Public Schools and will expand Family Resource Center supports as winter needs rise.
Assistant Superintendent of Student Services Brooke Kensler told the Carbondale Elementary School District No. 95 board that a recent community food drive collected roughly 3,000 donated items to stock school pantries.
"The event was a tremendous success—held outside Kroger," Kensler said, calling the donations helpful but insufficient to meet rising need. Kensler said the district has received two shipments from the St. Louis Area Foodbank and expects requests for utilities, housing assistance and winter coats to increase as temperatures fall. She said Community Schools coordinators will travel to Cincinnati Public Schools to observe Family Resource Center operations and sustainability practices.
Kensler credited partners including Kroger, the University of Illinois Extension and volunteers such as the CMS boys’ basketball team for helping collect and unload donations. The update included plans for upcoming school-level Family Resource Council meetings that will review referral data and opportunities to expand services.
