By Marisa Dawson, Courtesy Graphics
A new summer initiative aimed at helping local students facing food insecurity has already drawn strong community support in Bennington. The Bennington Public Schools Foundation, Bennington Community Food Pantry and Bennington Woman’s Club have partnered to launch a Summer Food Program that will provide free weekly meal support to students during the months school is out of session.
Beginning May 27 and continuing through Aug. 5, participating students will receive meal bags containing five breakfasts and five lunches each week. According to organizers, more than 50 students in the Bennington school community were identified as not having reliable access to breakfast and lunch during the summer months.
“The idea came in collaboration with the Bennington Women’s Club and the BPS Foundation,” said Blake Thompson, executive director of the Bennington Public Schools Foundation. “Conversations originally began around a weekend food bag program during the school year. With the end of the school year nearing, it was natural to start this program now for students in need over the summer.”
Thompson said the loss of school meal programs during summer break can create added hardship for families already struggling with food insecurity.
“Food assistance is in place for free/reduced school meals during the school year,” he said. “This allows those in need to access food and creates food security for those during the school year. When school is not in session, we do not have those securities in place. This can create a challenge for those in need.”
Each organization involved is taking on a specific role in helping the program succeed. The BPS Foundation is coordinating donations and helping identify families in need through school counseling staff. The Bennington Community Food Pantry is serving as the central hub for food ordering and storage, while the Bennington Woman’s Club is assisting with sorting, organizing and delivering meal bags throughout the summer.
“All three organizations are playing a vital role in one way or another,” Thompson said.
Kelli Wilkins of the Bennington Community Food Pantry said the partnership grew naturally through previous collaborations on community service projects.
“The Bennington Woman’s Club and the Bennington Public Schools Foundation, specifically Miriam Sukraw and Blake Thompson, have partnered on community projects in the past, including backpack and school supply drives,” Wilkins said. “Through those efforts, conversations naturally grew around the ongoing issue of childhood food insecurity, especially during weekends and the summer months when school is not in session.”
Wilkins said the pantry was a natural fit for the collaboration because of its existing role serving local families.
“The Bennington Community Food Pantry will serve as the primary food resource for the program,” she said. “Our team will coordinate the collection of non-perishable food donations, manage storage and organization of the items, and distribute groceries to families who have signed up for support throughout the summer.”
The organizations initially set a fundraising goal of $5,508 to fully fund the initiative before summer began. Shortly after announcing the program, organizers announced the goal had already been met thanks to a wave of community donations.
“Once again we are blown away by the swift generosity of our community for our students,” organizers shared in an update announcing the successful fundraiser.
Despite reaching the initial goal, donations are still being accepted to support additional students who may enroll throughout the summer and to help sustain the program in future years.
Thompson said the response from the community has reinforced the importance of collaboration. “Collaboration of this sort isn’t about having money to bridge the gap, it’s about taking time when you have it to come together with others for those in need,” he said. “We have had 24 financial donors so far, the BPS Foundation, School Counselors, Food Pantry, Woman’s Club and more come together to fill this need. That’s a powerful piece of collaboration.”
Wilkins said moments at the food pantry continue to highlight why efforts like this matter. “Just this week, we welcomed three new visitors who had never needed to use a pantry before,” she said. “They came to St. John’s simply hoping someone could help. Even though the pantry was not officially open at the time, they were welcomed with open arms and guided through the process by staff and volunteers.”
“These visitors left with grateful tears in their eyes and the ability to keep going,” Wilkins added. “I was reminded in that moment just how much this community matters to so many.”
Both Thompson and Wilkins said they hope the program provides more than meals this summer. “We hope this provides relief and security for families,” Thompson said. “Maybe this allows some families to have a little extra at the end of a summer month to spend some time outside with each other or a few less hours at work in order to be together. Whatever it is, we hope it brings people together.”
Wilkins said the initiative reflects the spirit of the Bennington community. “My husband and I chose Bennington as the place to raise our family because of its small-town feel and the way people genuinely show up for one another,” she said. “Programs and partnerships like this reflect the spirit that make Bennington unique, and we hope continued collaboration will help strengthen and preserve that sense of community for years to come.”
Online donations (credit card/Venmo/Paypal) right now here:
https://secure.qgiv.com/for/2026bpsstudentsummerlunchprogram
Bennington Public Schools Foundation has been working with BPS Guidance Counseling staff to identify students who would qualify for this initiative. If there is anyone not signed up that would qualify they can review the details and sign up for the program here:
https://www.benningtonschoolsfoundation.org/get-assistance/summerfoodprogram.html
