A Grand Ledge High School (GLHS) new journalism teacher and yearbook advisor was quick to take action during the government shutdown, creating a food cupboard for students and their families. Ash Allison, known as the yearbook teacher for GLHS, began the idea. She was influenced by a friend in the Lansing school district who also supported her own class.
“I was thinking, how can we create something that allows students to have access to food?” Allison said.
At the time, the government shutdown had just begun, taking away SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits from numerous families. Additionally, inflation and expenses on health care are increasing by almost seven percent.
“This is a need that I think extends far beyond any government shutdown,” Allison stated.
Within days of requesting approval for the cupboard to Dr. Wright, it was quickly approved, surprising the teacher with its haste. Allison was able to start the long journey of creating such a thing, still continuing as time gets closer to winter break, even coming together with GLHS’s student council to create baskets for families. The end result is hoped to be that the cupboard gets several donations, enough to be able to help everyone in Grand Ledge’s community, possibly more.
“It can just be a place [where] if people need the care, it’s here for them,” Allison said.
To help the food pantry in the Lansing district, Allison had reached out to her coworkers in hopes of getting awareness and donations out to the pantry. When Grand Ledge’s students heard, they were deeply moved, hoping to find any way they could help support.
Allison continues to take charge, receiving more donations each day, already having a small combination of different things. Hopefully, she will end up with enough food for students to grab a snack if they have forgotten to pack food before an after school practice. For interest in donations, the main office and Student Services are acceptable places to donate, but it’s preferable to donate in Teacher Ash’s classroom, 113, located in the art hallway.
