CHESTERTOWN — Kent County High School students enrolled in the Maryland Business Roundtable for Education’s Next Generation Scholars program are volunteering with the Kent County Community Food Pantry through their Summer of Service initiative.
One day per week for four weeks, they have totaled nearly 40 hours of “student service” with the food pantry, which provides fresh produce, dairy products and shelf-stable items to those with limited incomes.
There are 10 students involved in the program this summer, including two KCHS alumni who are now rising college sophomores.
At the food pantry they have helped to pack bags for the weekend backpack program for Kent County Public Schools students — 275 bags to date, with one day remaining — and assisted clients with their shopping needs, among other things.
Pictured here sorting a delivery from the Maryland Food Bank on Tuesday, July 22 are Randy Carrow, a longtime volunteer with the Kent County Community Food Pantry; Lupe Duarte (KCHS Class of 2024 and SGA president), Next Generation Scholars program support for Kent County and strategic initiatives intern; and MacKenzie Smith, Next Generation Scholars Class of 2026.
The Next Generation Scholars program, in partnership with the state, helps students from underserved communities develop their talents and graduate high school ready for college and career.
The program director in Kent County is Taylor Hudson.
The Kent County Community Food Pantry, which operates out of First United Methodist Church in Chestertown, is open from 10 a.m. to noon on Tuesdays and Thursdays. On average, 100 clients are served each week. It’s an all-volunteer program with the exception of Director Deeann Jones.
— Photo by Trish McGee
