KoMet Pantry serves students in need

Three years ago, the KoMet Pantry opened at Kasson-Mantorville High School and has been serving kids in need ever since. The Pantry provides perishable and non-perishable food as well as personal items such as shampoo and deodorant.
Students don’t need to provide any documentation proving they need assistance. “We feel like if kids say ‘I need it,’ then they need it,” said Kerri Klingfus, KM social worker. “For those students who have indicated need we invite them down to the KoMet Pantry weekly and at that time a staff member is there to say ‘What do you need? What can I help you find?’ They then get food they can take home.”
The KoMet Pantry also gives away new clothes, including KoMet spirit wear so students in need can participate in school pride days. The Pantry receives wide community support, including from the faith community, with donations of money, food and personal hygiene items such as razors, shaving cream and socks.
“These are things that our high school kids want and need,” Klingfus said. Fifteen to 20 students are typically served weekly by the KoMet Pantry.
“Sometimes we will just have students who say they didn’t get anything to eat today,” she said. “They say ‘I’m hungry.’ We believe when students feel cared for and fed and safe that’s when you’re the best learner. That’s when you can be ready to come in and learn, so we want to make sure their basic needs are met. If a kid is hungry we are going to get them food.”
Klingfus said she gets nervous when their KoMet Pantry supplies run low, but somehow the community always manages to be supportive and get them restocked.
“We’re trying to keep up with the demand we have and so far we’re doing a good job,” she said. “It’s challenging. We get nervous because sometimes we get a little low on food. We were just kind of bare and then our students had the most amazing food drive here at school, and got our shelves filled back up.”
The KoMet Pantry’s motto is “those who have share, and those who need receive.”
Often teachers and para professionals are the first to discover a student is hungry, Klingfus said. They get the student directed to the KoMet Pantry.
“Teachers are very much behind us,” she said. “They’re often the ones who will hear kids say ‘There isn’t a lot of food in our house.’ It really takes all of us to make sure the needs of our students are met. We rely heavily on our teaching and para staff.”