‘Students Helping Students’ delivers special personal care kits

Hunger exists in every community in America and Northbrook is no exception. The “Students Helping Students” program demonstrates the role that high school and college students can play in meeting the needs of financially challenged families in Northbrook.

There are some 400 students in the Northbrook public schools who are on the free or reduced lunch government programs and live-in families who are food insecure.

Hunger Resource Network (HRN), a Northbrook-based nonprofit organization (www.hungerresourcenetwork.org), is currently serving 160 of the 400 students across the twelve public elementary and middle schools through its Student Food Pack program.

For the past five years, local college and high school students have helped these Northbrook students in a special way. The goal of the “Students Helping Students” program is to collect a bag stuffed with an array of personal care items for each student. Through Hunger Resource Network and local community partners these food insecure students also receive regular bags of healthy food to supplement their government funded lunches.

Samantha Mallahan, a 2023 graduate of Vanderbilt University who has led the “Students Helping Students” program since it began in 2020, participated again this year.

Sam and a team of fellow college and high school students hosted the fifth annual “Students Helping Students” event in the Westmoor Elementary School parking lot, 2500 Cherry Lane, Northbrook, on Sunday, July 14, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

“I passionately support the ‘Students Helping Students’ effort because it is so impactful. Every overflowing brown bag we receive has a truly profound effect on a family in our community.

“Bringing the Northbrook community together to show our students and their families how much we deeply care about them is an incredibly moving experience and one I am very grateful to be a part of,” she added.

Help Expand the “Students Helping Students” and “Student Food Pack” programs

To make a donation to the Student Food Pack or Students Helping Students Programs, visit: hungerresourcenetwork.org/student-pack-program

Learn More About Hunger Resource Network

HRN is a 501(c) (3) organization dedicated to working in partnership with corporations and individuals who share a commitment to feed the hungry. Its mission is to aid in the alleviation of hunger by helping meet the needs of food pantries, soup kitchens, and shelters.

Twice each year, HRN hosts “Poultry to Pantries Day” when a total of 240,000 pounds of frozen chicken is distributed to approximately one hundred organizations providing food to those in need throughout the Chicago area.

Established in 1996, HRN has dozens of businesses, foundations, local organizations, and individuals all known as “Hunger Heroes” who are benefactors. Visit: hungerresourcenetwork.org/partners

For additional information or to volunteer, contact HRN at (847) 272-1700 or go to hungerresourcenetwork.org.

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