WINDHAM - Windham Community Food Pantry at Hope Restoration Church was the benefactor of an AP with Me Service Project organized by Windham-Ashland-Jewett school sophomores Olivia Storms and Jack Lonecke. On hand for the delivery of 500 food items, last week, were Food Pantry managers Doug Grauer (far left) and Shari Grauer (far right) with students Olivia Storms and Jack Lonecke.

WINDHAM - The Windham Community Food Pantry would like to thank two Windham-Ashland-Jewett school sophomores for their AP with ME Service Project benefiting the Windham Community Food Pantry.

Collecting over 500 items of non-perishable items to donate to the pantry, the 10th grade students, Olivia Storms and Jack Lonecke, came up with the idea in their AP World History Class taught by  Laura Giarusso.

“Jack and I wanted to take on a project that would help with the food insecurity issue we have been discussing in our class,” Olivia said.

“A food drive for the food pantry was something we knew could make a difference locally” Jack said.

Olivia and Jack created a contest the whole school could participate in.  The winning class, 1st graders with teachers Ms. Lashua and Ms. Ray, collected over 100 items in just one week.

The First Grade class will now be treated to an ice cream party. Olivia and Jack  thank their teacher, Laura Giarusso and Sean O’Connor, Head of Food Services at WAJ, for their help. 

Speaking on behalf of the Windham Community Food Pantry, managers Doug and Shari Grauer said, “we are so impressed by what Olivia and Jack were able to accomplish and for their desire to help the local community. 

“It’s wonderful to see young people take an interest in helping others.”  The WCFP provides groceries for over 100 families per month through generous donations and food grants.