FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. (WNCN) — The food pantry at Alger B. Wilkins High School in Fayetteville is helping students improve their grades.
Graduate Marjorie Jackson said she almost dropped out of high school because of difficult times in her family.
“You go home and you don’t have anything to eat. You don’t want to tell people that,” Jackson said.
She transferred to Alger B. Wilkins High School for non-traditional and at-risk students in Cumberland County. The school also has a food pantry, which is used by the majority of students, including Jackson.
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“I would come and get something if I needed it. Even if I didn’t do it, I had family members who would,” Jackson said.
The pantry is stocked with everything from food to clothing to hygiene products. School leaders said the need has grown over the years.
“If you look around, you’ll see some shelves are empty. It’s like sometimes we can’t meet the needs,” said Natasha Thompson, social worker at Alger B. Wilkins High School. .
Principal Dr. Valerie Johnson-Martin said she started the pantry.
“We remove any barriers to graduation, and that’s the purpose of this pantry,” Dr. Johnson-Martin said.
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Jackson said the pantry has helped her persevere when she needs it most: She’ll be graduating from high school in just a few weeks.
After that, she plans to attend Fayetteville Technical Community College to study mortuary science.
“Together with the school support team, the pantry and the principal, I made it through,” Jackson said.
