Every December, members of Gateway High School’s Chick-fil-A Leader Academy decide on a service project where they can positively impact the community. This year, for “Do Good December,” the group of 25 students collected nonperishable foods for the school’s backpack program and monthly food pantry.
“The students decorated and dropped off boxes (of donations) at all of the schools,” adviser Marci Klinger said. Students also met to organize donations for the drive-through food pantry, held the second Wednesday of every month from 6 to 7:30 p.m.
Despite the frigid temperatures, the Chick-fil-A Leader Academy, along with Interact Club, worked the food pantry drive-through on Dec. 11 – setting up and distributing food to families. Students unpacked food trucks, organized various distribution tables and loaded groceries into vehicles as they passed through the line.
“The need is just getting greater and greater,” faculty member Jennifer Czyzewski said. “We’re seeing 750 vehicles a month.”
Brian Wenger is the owner and operator of the Chick-fil-A in Monroeville and sponsors the Leader Academy at Gateway and Franklin Regional.
“I like to come and watch the kids. It’s very student-led, student-driven,” Wenger said. “They do a great job with the kids,” Wenger added, referring to Chick-fil-A Leader Academy advisers Klinger, Dawn Nicolazzo and Regan Reeder.
In addition to collecting donations and volunteering at the food pantry, students also cleaned and organized the school’s Gator Closet, which provides clothing, shoes and toiletries for students in need.
Academy members also participated in the National Million Book Challenge.
“Five books are packed and being given to students each week who participate in the backpack program,” Nicolazzo said.
Food-insecure students receive a backpack filled with nonperishable groceries for the weekend; backpacks are packed by members of Interact Club.
About 250 backpacks are filled and sent home every Friday.
“Their next project will be their Spring Impact, in which they will decide how they can impact their school or community,” Nicolazzo said.
For more information on the backpack program or drive-through food pantry, call Gateway High School at 412-373-5740.
