The MVHS (Moreno Valley High School) Secret Pantry is a food pantry designed for the students and faculty of Moreno Valley High School in Angel Fire, New Mexico. The Interact group at MVHS decided that the school was lacking a sufficient food program after they noticed students coming to school hungry and having few options to feed themselves during the day. One student was even observed falling asleep while taking one of the state mandated tests after having no breakfast that day and no dinner the night before. Due to a lack of nutrition, many students were unable to focus in class and saw their academic performance suffer.
The MVHS (Moreno Valley High School) Secret Pantry is a food pantry designed for the students and faculty of Moreno Valley High School in Angel Fire, New Mexico. The Interact group at MVHS decided that the school was lacking a sufficient food program after they noticed students coming to school hungry and having few options to feed themselves during the day. One student was even observed falling asleep while taking one of the state mandated tests after having no breakfast that day and no dinner the night before. Due to a lack of nutrition, many students were unable to focus in class and saw their academic performance suffer.
The Secret Pantry began with the 2015-2016 Interact Club President, Eloragh Espie. She was the student who really pushed for the pantry and worked hard to coordinate the program. Eloragh was in charge of stocking and recording inventory of the pantry for her junior and senior years at MVHS.
The pantry was first stocked in March of 2016 and received a warm welcome from the students and staff. The Interact Club was excited to hear of the success of the pantry as more and more students began to voice their appreciation for it. Many expressed their gratitude saying that the pantry helped them focus in class and got rid of their headaches during the school day.
The club could have never imagined the impact of the pantry. It improved the overall school atmosphere and helped students excel both at school and at home. The community of Angel Fire loved the program and started contributing donations and providing overwhelming support. One church dedicated half of their Christmas Eve collection to the pantry resutking in a total donation of over $ 2000. It even caught the attention of Governor Susana Martinez who congratulated Eloragh Espie and applauded her incredible effort with an award presented at her graduation in May of 2018. (See attached Governor's letter.)
The Interact Club of MVHS plans to continue to run the food pantry for as long as possible. It has not only been beneficial to the students, but to the whole school including the faculty and the community. The pantry was recently expanded to include school supplies also. The Interact Club of MVHS is more than grateful for the continued support and use of the pantry. We hope our story can inspire and encourage others to take action in their own schools just as the students of the MVHS Interact Club have.
The Secret Pantry began with the 2015-2016 Interact Club President, Eloragh Espie. She was the student who really pushed for the pantry and worked hard to coordinate the program. Eloragh was in charge of stocking and recording inventory of the pantry for her junior and senior years at MVHS.
The pantry was first stocked in March of 2016 and received a warm welcome from the students and staff. The Interact Club was excited to hear of the success of the pantry as more and more students began to voice their appreciation for it. Many expressed their gratitude saying that the pantry helped them focus in class and got rid of their headaches during the school day.
The club could have never imagined the impact of the pantry. It improved the overall school atmosphere and helped students excel both at school and at home. The community of Angel Fire loved the program and started contributing donations and providing overwhelming support. One church dedicated half of their Christmas Eve collection to the pantry resutking in a total donation of over $ 2000. It even caught the attention of Governor Susana Martinez who congratulated Eloragh Espie and applauded her incredible effort with an award presented at her graduation in May of 2018. (See attached Governor's letter.)
The Interact Club of MVHS plans to continue to run the food pantry for as long as possible. It has not only been beneficial to the students, but to the whole school including the faculty and the community. The pantry was recently expanded to include school supplies also. The Interact Club of MVHS is more than grateful for the continued support and use of the pantry. We hope our story can inspire and encourage others to take action in their own schools just as the students of the MVHS Interact Club have.