By Nathaniel Bedilion, The Dominion Post
According to talkpoverty.org, 39.7 million Americans — or 12.3% — fall below the poverty line, according to study done in 2017.
Pantry Plus More was created to combat those statistics on a local level. The organization is fighting to end child hunger in the area by incorporating pantries within the public school systems to assure children have the basic necessities, plus more.
Roark Sizemore, president of the board of Pantry Plus More, Inc. and co-founder of the effort, said they work hard to ensure area children from K-12 have the basics.
The end goal, he said, is “helping children not worry about things they don’t have to.”
“Children shouldn’t have to worry about making sure if they have clean clothes, food or hygiene products,” he said.
Recently, Sizemore has received two awards for his accomplishments.
On June 17, he was one of five students from across the country — picked from a field of 1,000 applicants — to be awarded a Stephen J. Brady Stop Hunger Scholarship,” created to recoggize “student innovation and youth-led solutions to fight hunger in America.” Each winner will receive a $5,000 scholarship for schooling and a $5,000 grant, to be used toward Pantry Plus More, from the Sodexo Stop Hunger Foundation.
He also received the Jefferson Award, a national honor bestowed upon individuals who are committed to making a change within their communities.
Pantry Plus More Inc. operates in schools during school hours, so children can go in and get what they need with no sign-ups, so it’s completely confidential Sizemore said.
Christine Wong, board member of Pantry Plus More Inc., has been working with the cause for three years. She feels that ending poverty starts with education and allowing children to have access to the basic things many of us often take for granted.
Pantry Plus More Inc. started in March of 2016, in Sizemore’s senior year of high school, along with County Commissioner Tom Bloom.
Prior to the Pantry, Sizemore said that when he was in 8th grade he’d volunteer at the local church, along with his basketball team, and serve dinners to the less fortunate.
Sizemore also had a classmate who was caring for three younger siblings. After seeing how he struggled making sure the children had what they needed, Sizemore felt that he should get more involved, shed light on poverty and create ways to combat it.
On Aug. 9, at North Elementary, there will be a “back-to-school bash” for incoming students in need. The drive will consist of free haircuts, backpacks and school supplies. Mountaineer Food Bank Farmers’ Market and MCHD Smile Express will be there to provide for the children.
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