On Thursday, July 18, the South Lakes High School PTSA (Parents Teacher Student Association) Food Pantry marked a significant milestone in its journey. Founded in 2017, the Pantry has distributed over 2 million pounds of food and toiletries to those experiencing food insecurity. Co-founder Roberta Gosling deemed the accomplishment "pretty incredible." 

According to a press release from the Pantry, Kimberly Retzer, principal of South Lakes High School, encouraged staff, teachers, and the PTSA leadership to incorporate the Pantry into the South Lakes community from day one. Since then, the Pantry has grown tremendously. 

“It’s hard to believe that we started with 20–25 student shoppers each week, and today, during the school year, we often have 300 students shopping and 175 families coming through every week,” said Pantry co-founder and Pantry liaison Abbe Pascal.

Even more astonishing are the hundreds of volunteers who pack bags filled with weekly donations and drive them from Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Herndon to South Lakes High School in Reston, ensuring that students and their families receive the necessary food and toiletries. More volunteers distribute the food, toiletries, and grocery gift cards.

In its seven-year journey supporting those in the community experiencing food insecurity, the SLHS Food Pantry has had “the wind at its back." This push comes from donors, volunteers, the school, and the community. Volunteer Monica Russ described the behind-the-scenes action as “a true community effort.”

Trader Joe's Reston, Wegmans, Safeway, and Whole Foods donate food weekly, while A Simple Gesture and Food for Neighbors donate biweekly. South Lakes School Pyramid supports the Pantry with initiatives like the annual Stuff the Bus. “The Pantry exemplifies the way our community comes together to support one another in a meaningful way,” Carlos Seward, the incoming principal of South Lakes High School, said.

The local community also comes together in other ways, such as participating in the 'biggest FUNdraiser' to support the Pantry and allow it to serve anyone in need living in the South Lakes Pyramid area. This area includes the following elementary schools: Dogwood, Forest Edge, Fox Mill, Hunters Woods, Lake Anne, Sunrise Valley, and Terraset, as well as Langston Hughes Middle School and South Lakes High.

On September 29, join the SLHS PTSA Food Pantry organizers for their 7th Annual "Do It Your Way 0.5K." Participate in person or virtually; same-day registration is available. Prepare for warm-up drills, music with DJ Randy Platts, celebrity starters, prizes, and the all-important mid-race treats (spoiler alert, donuts) to keep you going. “You know it'll be the most rewarding 650 steps you have taken this year,” say the organizers. Participants will have the option to participate in several heats, including a "dog heat."

This year, the fundraiser will celebrate the South Lakes High School PTSA Food Pantry's distribution milestone, and organizers hope to break another record, that in total funds raised. Visit the 7th Annual "Do It Your Way 0.5K to learn more.