Ben and Kelsey Starr are taking steps to eliminate hunger for students in Monroe County.
Through Step Up Foundation, the couple is creating in-school pantry spaces that provide immediate access to free food with no questions asked.
The Starrs are Farm Bureau Insurance agents. They own and operate Starr Insurance Agency at 1185 W. Front St. in Monroe and the pantry project initially started with funding from a grant offered through Farm Bureau.
The first pantry, Trojan Market at Cantrick School, was sponsored by Starr Insurance Agency, Farm Bureau Agent Charitable Fund and Monroe County Farm Bureau.
With supervision, students can visit the pantry and pick what they need – whether it’s a snack for now or something to take home for the weekend.
“It is a safe space inside of the schools that allows them snacks, breakfast options and take-home food options for the weekend.” Kelsey said. “It is food that their peers are eating, easy snacks or food for them to make at home, depending on the age group.”
The initial cost to open a pantry can range from $1,500 to $2,000 but once an individual, group or organization has sponsored the pantry, no additional funding from the sponsor is required.
“This is community based so anyone in Monroe that would like to sponsor a pantry is welcome and we would love to work with them,” Kelsey said. “There are different options available so if someone wants to help but does not want to sponsor a pantry, they can donate food for the pantry as an option to help. We have a wish list.”
Through community partnerships, Kelsey said local businesses and donors choose a school to sponsor. Donations go directly into the school pantries, keeping them stocked and running all year long.
“We have been shocked with the outpouring of support. We have had businesses that have wanted to partner with us,” she said. “We picked five other schools and businesses to partner with and were able to launch those and get them going.”
Located in a controlled environment like a classroom or closet, to date, these are the pantries: Hollywood Market at Hollywood sponsored by Shelley Roberts of Tres Chic Salon; Custer Cougars Care Center at Custer sponsored by Josh and Alisha Laroy of Advanced Plumbing; Manor Mini Market inside Manor sponsored by Nichole Blanke of Viva Dance and Waterloo Market at Waterloo sponsored by Mike and Wendy Gaynier.
Raisinville School is next on the list. The Starrs want to continue to work with other Monroe County schools. Ben recently did a presentation with Ida Public Schools and said there is excitement to building pantries there.
“That’s more of a summer project when they get out of school,” Ben said. “But it’s one we have the green light to start exploring as well.”
Last month, Step Up Foundation joined the Community Foundation of Monroe County as a fundholder. The Starrs say it gives them the opportunity to learn stronger fundraising strategies and build a clear, sustainable plan for their pantries.
Ben said although sponsors are needed to adopt a school pantry, donations are an integral piece of the project.
Step Up Foundation got a chance to be part of the inaugural Community Foundation of Monroe County’s Spark Tank. They won a chance to enter the Spark Lab Program and a $2,500 matching grant from CFMC.
“We want people to know this is ongoing and we will need funds to restock or for any kind of upgrades or shelving,” Ben said. “Funds are needed for us to sustain this. Any funds we can raise go directly to our school pantries. Every dollar goes to students in Monroe County.”
Anyone wishing to learn more about the pantries, sponsorship or making a donation can visit the Step Up Foundation website, email stepupmonroe@gmail.com or call 734-497-9393 or 734-945-5933.
— Contact reporter Lisa Vidaurri-Bowling at lvidaurribowling@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: Monroe County couple fights student hunger with school food pantries
Reporting by Lisa Vidaurri Bowling, The Monroe News / The Monroe News
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