Carrier Educational Center staff came together ahead of Winter Recess to help address food insecurity by collecting and distributing food items to juniors and seniors enrolled in Career & Technical Education programs.
The Erie 2-Chautauqua-Cattaraugus BOCES center organized the effort to ensure students had access to essential food supplies during the extended break, when some may lose access to school-provided meals through their home districts. Items collected include peanut butter, jelly, macaroni and cheese, fruit cups, crackers, and oatmeal, among other essentials.
Consultant teacher Nicole Kaleta helped coordinate the collection and distribution effort, working alongside staff from Carrier to assemble bags of food for students.
“We put together bags of food items in hopes of serving our students during what could possibly be a tough time,” Kaleta said. “We know grocery shopping has become expensive, and families rely on schools to help feed their children. With the help of our incredible staff here at Carrier and connecting buildings, we were able to give our students a little less worry during these times.”
The Carrier Educational Center currently serves 140 juniors and seniors enrolled in its Career & Technical Education programs. Staff members said the initiative was rooted in the understanding that many students have unique needs and circumstances, particularly during the holiday season.
This effort builds on past initiatives, as employees have previously organized food collections in support of the local food pantry.
“Every student has an untold story, and we wanted to share our love and support during the holidays,” Kaleta said. “Our amazing team was able to do just that.”
Carrier Principal Jessica Sullivan thanked staff and community members who contributed to the effort, noting the importance of providing consistent access to food during long school breaks.
“This Winter Break, we want to ensure that none of our students go hungry,” Sullivan said. “A huge thank you to our Carrier community for coming together to support our students. The break is long, and many of our students rely on their home districts for meals. The contributions are vital to ensuring they have consistent access to food while our programs are paused. We are truly grateful.”
