Seventh grader Elizabeth Jacobs was ready to shop at Gene’s at 7 a.m.
It wasn’t the first time. After taking part in last year’s Hunger Games, she was ready to come back for more.
“I know hunger is a really big problem, and I just want to help people out,” Jacobs said.
Middle schoolers steered full shopping carts down aisles at Gene’s Heartland Foods before school Friday morning to gather supplies for the food pantry.
The community service project is part of the after-school enrichment program Hunger Games, which educates students on local food insecurity.
Each group of middle schoolers had $250 and 45 minutes to search shelves for useful and inexpensive goods to donate. With the help of food pantry volunteers, students maximized their budget totaling $2,000 worth of donated food.
The donations, which came from the Eudora Schools Foundation, also included $1,000 for the food pantry to use later on. Executive Director Shanda Hurla helped create the Hunger Games to teach middle school students the complexities of food insecurity.
“I think they are always surprised, of course, with the price of food,” Hurla said. “Also really trying to think, ‘How do we try to make sure that we’re donating healthy foods?’”
Seventh grader Jake Lamont said he hopes the event will inspire others to continue giving to the food pantry.
“It feels good, but I’m not doing it for the feels,” Lamont said. “I just want people to be happy.”
According to Feeding America, 14% of people across the country experienced food insecurity in 2023. Partnering with Gene’s Heartland Foods and the food pantry allows for local impact.
Hurla said many students volunteer at the event every year.
“Students are getting to interact with the Eudora pantry volunteers, really understanding that our pantry in Eudora is all volunteers, and it takes a lot of people to make something like this work,” Hurla said.
Seventh grader Lydia Mueting said it’s something fun to do with her friends.
“It can help people have a new start, get a bit healthier, live life longer, live a happier life, too,” Mueting said.
Reach reporter Julia Hanson at [email protected].
