Bassett Healthcare Networks Middleburgh School-Based Health Center Partners with District and Food Bank to Establish Student Food Pantry

MIDDLEBURGH – The Middleburgh Central School District now has a food pantry, available to all students in need, thanks to a partnership between school leaders, the Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York and Bassett Healthcare Network’s School-Based Health Center (SBHC) located inside the school.

In 2024, several of Bassett’s SBHC teams participated in a Social Determinants of Health Learning Collaborative, sponsored by the National School-Based Health Alliance. This collaborative delved into factors that can impact a child or teen’s health beyond the healthcare services they receive, including how important access to nutritious food is. Upon completion of the collaborative, each site was awarded a $5,000 stipend to support that SBHC’s work addressing the social determinants impacting students in their local community. Middleburgh’s School-Based Health Center invested that funding into the newly-established Jr./Sr. High Food Pantry. Part of the stipend was used to purchase a refrigerator and promotional materials while the rest is being used for the purchase of food.

“Through the care we provide at our School-Based Health Center, we discovered middle-school and high-school age students were hesitant to take part in the backpack program that continues to support many students facing food insecurity in Middleburgh,” said Caroline Andrew, NP, pediatric practitioner at Bassett’s Middleburgh School-Based Health Center. “The older students wanted more choice and the ability to put what they know about nutrition into action. It’s been amazingly rewarding to be able to say to students, ‘Here’s a room that’s stocked. Drop in whenever you want and take as much as you need with no questions asked.’”

The pantry is incorporated into the Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York’s school pantry program. The food bank awarded the pantry an additional $2,000 and it continues to perform inspections to ensure the pantry is up to code. Grocery items purchased through the food bank at a deeply discounted rate are delivered to the school on a weekly basis and students enrolled in Middleburgh’s Basic Skills program restock the shelves on the days those deliveries arrive.    

“Many of the students who ensure our food pantry remains organized receive food themselves. It’s truly empowering and helps the students practice important skills,” said Sierra Diamond, school social worker for the Middleburgh Central School District. “I deeply appreciate everyone at our Bassett Healthcare Network School-Based Health Center and those with the Regional Food Bank who help make this pantry a reality. Resources in our community are extremely limited, so it is important that we can have this space for students facing food insecurity to feel safe and supported without stigma.”

Staff at Bassett’s Middleburgh SBHC screen each of the students they see to learn if they may be facing food insecurity and ensure they are oriented with the food pantry and what it has to offer. Between November and December of 2024, at least 55 students accessed this resource.  

"The establishment of the student food pantry is a testament to the power of collaboration and the commitment of our community to meet the needs of every student,” said Mark Place, Superintendent of Middleburgh Central School District. “By addressing food insecurity in a safe and supportive environment, we’re not just providing nourishment, but also fostering dignity, empowerment, and hope for our students. We’re incredibly grateful to Bassett Healthcare Network, the Regional Food Bank, and our School-Based Health Center for making this vision a reality."