Advisory Update

In Middle School Advisory, the students continue to focus on food and food related issues.  After a highly successful potluck lunch, in which kids contributed dishes that were either cultural traditions or family favorites, we went on to discuss local issues such as food deserts and food swamps.  We read this article: http://theweek.com/article/index/218167/americarsquos-food-deserts and discussed the following question:

Meet the Madisons—a family of five with three young children. Mrs. Madison wants to make dinner for her family and decides she wants to make a fresh and healthy meal of barbeque chicken, baked potatoes, green beans, and a side salad. She does not currently have any of these items in her home. Think through the following questions, then write your responses in your journal.

This produced some good conversation about access to food when considering that not everyone has money, transportation, or even utensils to cook a meal.

To follow this discussion, three speakers from Common Pantry talked to the kids about the services that they provide for people in need right here in the neighborhood.  NPES has run several food drives for them and plans to be further involved.   The speakers were impressed with the excellent questions that were asked by the students.  

Scott Best, Common Pantry Director, speaks to middle schoolers about the services that the pantry provides.