McHenry High School food pantry finds permanent home

McHenry High School’s “Food for Thought” food pantry has found a permanent home, after five years of moving to different locations.

The Food for Thought program provides a weekend supply of food for children to replace school meals they might miss during the weekend or extended breaks from school, according to its website.

Students are given food bags with enough for two breakfasts, two lunches, two dinners and two snacks.

Since the inception of the program in 2016, volunteers have been picking up and moving bins of food donations from place to place to keep the weekly donation program running, according to a news release.

Some of the past locations where the pantry has operated include the library, the loading dock and the basement in the district office among others.

“Over the years, they’ve probably been in six different locations,” McHenry High School District 156 Superintendent Ryan McTague said in a statement. “They’ve never complained one time.”

But now, the Food for Thought food pantry now has a spot in former offices in McHenry High School’s Upper Campus.

“This is something we are beyond grateful for,” said Ashley Diedrich, co-director of the Food for Thought program and a McHenry High School English instructor.

Two rooms in the Upper Campus’ second floor have been renovated, with cabinets and countertops put in for storing and packing.

A core group of about 10 adult and children volunteers currently operate the pantry, with high school clubs and departments helping out as well, according to the release.

Donations can be dropped off at McHenry High School’s Upper Campus and financial donations are also accepted, according to the release.

To learn more, go to the McHenry High School Food for Thought website at bit.ly/FoodforThoughtPantry.