Struggling in poverty is among the most damaging factors affecting healthy child development. Young children in poverty are at higher risk of experiencing difficulties later in life, including poor physical and mental health, teen parenthood, becoming school dropouts and lacking quality employment opportunities.

Northmen Den Youth Services operates food pantries inside area middle and high schools in a way that focuses on meeting the individualized needs of children to most effectively propel each person to a positive future outcome. We offer nutritional options for our youth to provide adequate diets. Students are able to visit our pantry during school hours (the lunch hour); we are now open two days each week, Tuesday and Friday. Allowing students to “shop,” at the pantries provides empowerment and gives a sense of control over their lives – as they choose the food they take and sometimes take extra items to care for siblings.

Managing 15 school-based youth pantries involves a lot of volunteer hours to shop and stock shelves based on the need within each school. Each pantry has one lead volunteer coordinator to oversee these operations and ensure students’ needs are met. Volunteers and coordinators are also able to establish meaningful relationships with students, which both creates a support system for youth and also also us to understand and respond to other specific needs, such as clothing, winter gear, school supplies and more.