Local teachers feed the mind and body
By Shelli Parker
Teachers are a special type of human being , they take on the daunting task of educating our children , being the eyes on the front line watching out for a need and often helping with supplies and other needed items from their own pocket . They do this in a society where some children are raising themselves and siblings from early ages during a pandemic in a very uncertain time . When local high school teachers saw some of their students were going hungry , they stepped in and sent food home .
“ Kids can ’ t learn when their tummies are grumbling ,” said Mandy Hancock , co-founder of Building Better Kids . “ High schoolers want to fit in , they won ’ t tell you they are hungry or there is no electricity at home , several of us were sending food home unaware that others were doing it . When we put our heads together we realized it was a bigger need than any of us knew .”
Hancock reached out to a local food pantry that sent bags home with elementary students on Fridays and was told older children are more self-sufficient and can get food for themselves . With many students living in rural areas , with little to no money and no stores within walking distance , how were they supposed to do that ? With a conviction and drive to help their students have one of the most basic necessities of life , Hancock , fellow teacher Sabrina Hight and a few others kept sending home food . With a donation of money from the Acme Brick Plant employees , Building Better Kids was born in 2019 . Holiday food boxes were sent for thanksgiving and Christmas break serving about 8 families the first semester .
“ We then started sending backpacks of food home with them for the weekend because we learned some of our kids don ’ t get to eat except for the free meals at school ,” Hancock said . “ It started with eight kids at the high school , we now serve over 40 kids on a weekly basis . Some of our students live
14 | Greater Athens Magazine | March 2022