Walking into Tiverton’s High School you would expect to find the familiar: a friendly greeting at the front desk, students traversing to classes, and athletes displaying their skills in the outdoor fields. This is what you will find for most of the day, but in the evening after all the students clear out, a certain resource opens up for those in need: a food bank. Which is tucked away in the heart of the school and operated by the school’s Culture and Climate Committee, its leader being Ms. McCarthy.
Food banks are charitable organizations that operate to distribute food to individuals facing food insecurity and anyone else who is in need of their service. Unlike government initiatives that provide money or food vouchers, these organizations distribute food directly. Inside of Tiverton’s food bank you will find all of your basic canned foods, produce, beverages, and even luxuries like meat and hygienic products. These are all supplied by the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Center, locals, and farmers who seek to support the needs of Tiverton’s community, but according to Ms. McCarthy there is always room for “more help.”
Walking into the food bank, you won’t just be provided with your needs, but also a warm and welcoming atmosphere. Ms. McCarthy’s friendly nature and presence is reassuring in a way that makes you feel safe to ask her for anything, which is what makes this initiative so special. In city food banks there is a possibility for disconnection, with the amount of people constantly coming in and out, but because of how small and specialized this food bank is to the Tiverton community you will be able to foster connections and relations within it.
“It’s become a community effort,” Ms. McCarthy detailed in an interview; “Mr. Callisto created a logo for us [the food bank] which grabbed more people’s attention, one of our teachers [Mr. Phillips] and his class made beautiful shelving units last year, Roots Farm now donates fresh produce to us every week.”
As poverty starts to affect the state more and more, these community based initiatives are bridging the gap between those in need and the basic necessities they need to survive off of. According to the town’s Factbook, Tiverton’s child poverty rate increased from a steady 4.1% to 5.2% over the last year. This increment may not seem like a lot, but in a small community with a low population it is significant and requires attentive action.
As more people struggle putting food on the table, Tiverton High’s Food Bank serves as a reminder that solutions can be on the grassroot level, where individuals such as Ms. McCarthy are willing to lend a hand and a heart. The Tiverton Food Bank does not only fill empty stomachs; it’s building a stronger more compassionate community– one meal at a time.