The Salem Area Ecumenical Ministries HCAT (SAEM/HCAT) is continuing to support the ongoing feeding programs at the food pantries that have been established at Andrew Lewis Middle School and Salem High School through funding by the Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth’s Healthy Communities Action Team (HCAT) grant.

Although the schools have closed, the food pantries are still operating on a limited schedule and have implemented a food delivery network. Since the COVID-19 situation, SAEM/HCAT has met weekly with the Salem school division staff (Director of Instruction, principals, food pantry school site coordinators, and industrial foods partner, Aramark Foods ) to review the ongoing delivery of meals and logistical considerations to ensure students have access to nutritious meals during the week.

The school staff at Andrew Lewis Middle School have delivered the food items to over 40 families, with a slight increase over the normal number of participants. They had previously served 25-30 families at the middle school.

The School Resource Officer and the School Site Coordinator are delivering weekly. At the high school, there are 14 families participating weekly. The Salem High School food pantry was established in November 2019. The HCAT continues to develop community partnerships to address the food insecurities within the local school systems.

Salem Area Ecumenical Ministries HCAT is a Healthy Communities Action Team (HCAT) grantee of the Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth. These grants aim to improve access to healthy foods and opportunities for physical activity to prevent and reduce childhood obesity in Virginia. Learn more about VFHY’s HCAT grants.

Stay connected with Salem Area Ecumenical Ministries and their food pantries! Like Salem Area Ecumenical Ministries on Facebook.

Salem Area Ecumenical Ministries in the News:

WFXR, “Local organizations help launch food pantry at Salem High School”

WFXR, ““Salem Bread” Food Pantry aims to help students in need”