Hunger Helpers
Students Create Food Pantry for Johnson Cluster Families
By Amy Morgan
"You never really know what the face of hunger looks like.” So stated Johnson High School senior Ella Larson. Wise beyond her years, Ella and fellow student, Jacob Duke, started a food pantry last year to serve families in the JHS cluster.
Many might mistakenly believe that those living in affluent Far North San Antonio would not struggle to obtain the basic necessities of food, toiletries and clothing, but that is not the case. According to NEISD records of those who are eligible for free or reduced lunch, 848 Johnson students – 1/3 of its population – qualified this year. Overall, the JHS cluster includes 2,610 economically disadvantaged children, with hundreds attending each elementary and middle school.
Jacob’s learned “You can never judge a book by its cover. Even though someone may look all right, they could very well be struggling to take care of themselves or their family.”
“We wanted to provide an opportunity for a need to be met without people feeling ashamed,” Ella said.
Lack has grown more pressing since NEISD disbanded their central food pantry and hygiene product service recently. In addition to non-perishable items, Jacob and Ella also connect families with assistance from other food banks and can provide clothing vouchers, diapers, and utility payment funds.
Since its start in September 2025, JHS’s food pantry has served more than 400 individuals, Ella reported, and averages 5.6 families a week, although they fulfilled 65 requests in six hours on January 21, the first time a large eblast was sent to the JHS cluster announcing the resource. Its slogan: “Feeding our future and current Jaguars.”
Ella and Jacob overcame a series of obstacles to bring their dream to fruition. They received invaluable help from Family Specialist Ruby Morris to complete all the requirements for district approval. Ms. Morris supports all seven of the JHS cluster schools. Where to store food donated through drives or delivered through the JHS Amazon wish list was another hurdle.
(Johnson Food Pantry | Amazon Gift List amazon.com)
Currently, items are housed in the attendance office and the back of the ALE classroom. Special needs students enrolled in JHS’s work-based learning program taught by Ms. Bickford gain valuable life skills packing, labeling and learning about nutritious food groups as they fill the boxes. Ms. Bickford “is incredible – we couldn’t do it without her and her students,” Ella enthused. JHS’s textbook room also was tapped to store an overflow of canned corn and green beans, Ella said.
Leadership organization Students of Service (SOS) (for which Ella is an ambassador) donated the pantry’s first grant of $650 for shelves to keep products organized and helped them write and obtain a $1000 grant from HEB. The students used half of that award to restock after the banner January deliver day.
Taking the pantry from idea to fruition involved Ella and Jacob developing an intricate Google form and spreadsheet system that allows students or families to confidentially request a food box through a QR code or link and for Ella, Jacob, Ms. Morris and Ms. Bickford to track packing and pickup. JHS and cluster schools publicize the food pantry through their weekly newsletters, eblasts and flyers.
Box contents vary by family size, but usually contain a jar of peanut butter, quick meals, boxes of mac and cheese, a bag or rice or beans and canned goods (complete with can opener if needed.) A requestor is notified to pick up their box at the Welcome Center once it has been packed.
Building community through service has proved especially meaningful to Jacob. “We actively connect with hundreds of people all the time, including those in need, other food pantries, or with volunteers,” he said. "I've discovered the importance of teamwork, especially in a project as big as this one. This was most definitely not a one-person project by any means.”
“Knowing the kids I work with so closely in PALs can go to sleep with a full stomach, knowing they are cared for, I want every kid and every parent to have that,” Ella added. She treasures the feedback from a cluster elementary counselor who shared a mother’s reaction to her food box. “I wish you could have seen my kids’ faces when they came home from school!” Ella was told. “They immediately dove in and started eating the food we had packed and the extra treats we stuck in.”
“That I’ve been put in the position to create and have a platform to bless those families and let those parents know someone is looking out for them and they are not forgotten is truly beautiful,” she said.
Ella plans to attend Texas A&M in the fall, where she’ll major in biomedical science with plans to become a pediatric physician’s assistant. Jacob will spend next year at UTSA before transferring elsewhere to complete a degree in a science field. His aspiration is to become an oncologist. These two Johnson students continue dreaming big, always considering how they can use their talents to benefit others.
