Andrea Groubert, a 30+ year faculty member at United Local School District, has assumed oversight of the district’s food pantry. Operated by her eighth-grade “Food For Thought” service class, more than 44 percent of middle and high school district students are on free or reduced lunch and are parts of food insecure households in the largely agricultural-focused community. (Photo by Stephanie Ujhelyi)

HANOVERTON — Food insecurity is something that nearly half of United Local middle and high school students face on a daily basis.

Andrea Groubert, who oversees the district’s food pantry, admitted that it is people often don’t realize as the district has a huge agricultural focus; however, she stressed that also means the district also lacks a huge industrial presence that often means larger incomes.

With more than 30 years in education, most recently serving as the district’s literacy coach, Groubert is in her eighth year of overseeing the district’s food pantry, which largely centers on providing shelf stable foods for participating students over the weekend.

Once teachers and staff refer food-insecure students to the food pantry students in grades six through 12 receive a confidential shopping trip in the small room.

Younger children are sent home permission slips –parents and guardians provide additional information like any kind of food sensitivities.

The good news is that even though 44.9 percent of the upper grades are impacted, it is only about 37 percent among elementary aged children, according to the district’s free and reduced lunch statistics. The district’s high prevalence of rental properties also does influence district income levels.

With the recent SNAP (Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program) crisis, the food pantry hasn’t really seen a bump in students seeking help like many food pantries have.

According to Groubert, there has been an increase in shelf-stable donations, like canned goods, peanut butter and snack foods –to be enjoyed by children over the weekends when they don’t have access to their free and reduced lunches through the school district.

Cereal and soup are among the most popular items along with Pop Tarts. Cans should be pop-tops whenever possible, which can be easy for small children to open.

When shopping for foods, she uses a Plus membership that the district bought her from Sam’s Club, which also allows her benefits like free shipping on most online order as well as 2 percent back on qualifying purchases. Most orders ship within a few days.

Groubert explained that she doesn’t usually spend a lot of time in the pantry, which her eighth-grade “Food For Thought” class operates.

Those wishing to donate to the school pantry either can bring non-expired food items to drop off on campus.

Groubert said that fresh fruit is especially desirable as it is something that students don’t typically receive and it doesn’t need refrigeration.

The canned meals, like the beef stew and chicken and dumplings are good and filling for the kids.

For those who prefer to send monetary donations, they can be directed to the United Local Schools Food Pantry, 8143 state Route 9 in Hanoverton, OH 44423.