By Kristen Hernandez
Pompano Beach, FL – Local families and residents are struggling to buy basic household items, and Pompano Beach Middle School principal, Lisa Livingston, envisioned bringing much needed resources directly into the neighborhood.
On Wednesday, April 24, the school unveiled its first on-campus food pantry that will be operated by Homeless Hearts, a local nonprofit organization dedicated to fighting hunger. With donations provided by Feeding South Florida, the middle school organized a ribbon cutting ceremony that brought residents and local officials out to witness the milestone and watch Livingston’s vision come to light.
“Ms. Livingston felt she needed to bring hunger awareness into the community,” said Tiana Poitier, Assistant Principal of Pompano Beach Middle School. “She especially felt that resources should be available for any resident experiencing financial difficulty and have those resources available right here on campus.”
Inside a room within the school cafeteria are carefully stocked pantry shelves arranged “mini-mart style.” Available items include feminine hygiene products, pantry items such as canned soup, vegetables, peanut butter and jelly, rice, pasta, water, juice, bread, cereals, frozen meats, and produce. The food pantry is currently open for residents during school hours by appointment, Monday through Friday, and will also offer drive-thru distribution of pre-packed groceries every Saturday beginning at 10 a.m.
“There are currently 22 kids enrolled at Pompano Middle whose families are listed as homeless,” said Tony Neal, CEO of Homeless Hearts, during an interview with Villij News after the opening. “It’s a blessing to have the opportunity to do more. Hungry kids can come to school and see a room right here that can meet their needs.”
Neal recalled his childhood and how his grandmother would bring him to Winn Dixie, but to the back where the dumpsters stood. She’d say, ‘If you remember this, you’ll never go hungry.’ Using a long stick with a hook at one end, she’d reach over and whack at whatever boxes that were inside until she heard the tell-tale “whomp,” and then order Neal to climb in to retrieve her prize.
“We’d pull out packages of water, still sealed, trays of unopened frozen meats, and pallets of still-fresh fruits and vegetables,” Neal said. “All that ‘waste’ was our goldmine.”
Head of Facilities for Homeless Hearts, and on-site pantry manager, Camilla Harris, believes that caring means sharing.
“Having this room filled with food gives people hope,” Harris said. “The grand opening was a tremendous milestone, but it’s only the beginning. We need to reach another level with help from the community. We need donations. We need shelves, a freezer, and a freezer truck. We also need feminine hygiene items. The community needs to come to the school and see what’s happening in their own backyards every Saturday, and volunteer.”
Any Pompano Beach family experiencing financial difficulty can utilize the pantry. Identification is required to enter, which lets Homeless Hearts track and offer ongoing support.
“A homeless heart is a faithless heart,” Neal said. “And empty stomachs fall on deaf ears. It’s the teachers that deal with the effects of not having enough. So, we’re rolling out the red carpet for the moms who can’t afford to shop at Trader Joes or Whole Foods. We want every family to see that there is room here in their neighborhood that can meet their needs. You can’t tell by someone’s looks what their situation is. And if you can change one child’s heart, you never know the effect that’ll have on their life.”
Contact Pompano Beach Middle School to make an appointment during school hours to visit the pantry. Drive-through grocery distribution is available every Saturday from 10am until noon, and no appointment is required.
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