Amherst Central Earns Collaborative Award from ECASB for the Tiger's Den Food Pantry
The Amherst Central School District, in partnership with St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Eggertsville and the WNY Food Pantry, was awarded the 2017-18 Hodgson Russ LLP-Excellence in Collaboration award for its Tiger's Den Food Pantry.
The award, to be presented by the Erie County Association of School Boards on June 7, recognizes the district for collaborating to create a program that is unique, exemplary, involves broad involvement outside the district and has the potential to be replicated.
The Amherst Central School District, St. Paul's Lutheran Church and the WNY Food Pantry expanded an existing food-to-home program for a few families at one elementary building into a collaborative food pantry serving many families across the Town of Amherst. Based at St. Paul's Church, the Tiger's Den Food Pantry allows families who qualify in the 14226 and 14221 zip codes, regardless if they have children attending the school district, to enroll in the pantry program and choose boxed, canned and perishable food items once a month.
Bringing the pantry to life took a year's worth of meetings and it opened in May 2017. The Food Bank of WNY became a partner four months later in August 2017. From its inception, Amherst Central School District staff and student groups, as well as community groups, have supported the pantry with food drives.