When are fresh carrots more than nutrition? Or a native recipe more than a colorful plate? How can a full belly become a full heart? These answers await at an APS Family Food Center.
“How big is my heart right now,” said Nella Moretti, eyes welling with tears. “It’s filled with joy because you guys are making the difference for our families.” Moretti thanked a crowd of coworkers, volunteers and community members at the grand opening of Mrachek Middle School’s Family Food Center, a food pantry that will serve local families in need. Moretti is a family liaison at Mrachek and a champion of food access. She says the meal on the table can be as important as the gathering itself.
“In my culture, and in other cultures, the most important thing is sitting at the table,” said Moretti, a native of Peru. “Enjoy, have a moment. We sit at the table with food to unite each other.”
APS is determined to grow that unity by making every school a community hub. That means that, beyond traditional education, schools are hearing families’ needs, sharing the decision making and creating support services. Brittany Cardwell, principal at Mrachek, sees the Family Food Centers as a perfect example of that plan in action.
“For years, our community has asked us if we can create resources for our families. Not just our Mrachek families, but those in our community, like Vassar Elementary, Rangeview High School and Arkansas Elementary,” Cardwell said. “So when I think about community hubs and what that looks like, this is it.”
It looks that way at Harmony Ridge P-8, too. Their new Family Food Center provides much-needed food access, along with a model to follow.
“A lot of people don't realize that this area is a huge food desert,” said April Banaitis, family liaison at Harmony Ridge. “This center is going to help us not just build a stronger community here, but work with other schools to copy what we have going.”
Banaitis feels connected to her community. She works there, of course, but she lives there, too. She sees the obstacles her neighbors, families and students face. At the same time, she sees their potential and is invested in realizing it.
“It's definitely important to me to remove barriers for kids,” Banaitis said. “I want them all to be successful in school and in life. I don't ever want a financial situation to be a reason that one of our students can’t do something they want to do.”
These Family Food Centers reflect our commitment to our strategic plan, Destination APS, and our priority of creating a collaborative and inclusive community where every student, family and staff member feels a sense of belonging. By strengthening schools as community hubs, APS is expanding support services, listening to our families and building connections that help all students shape successful futures.