Food: a tiny, four-letter word with power over all of society. With different people all over the world with different lives and different needs, food is a necessity that links the globe together. Despite the importance food has over society and the necessity of nourishment for survival, not all people have the food they need.

This is an issue that not only plagues people in third world countries but also people right here in Clark County. Mr. Foudray, Freshman English teacher, decided that sitting back and letting the students of GRC struggle with finding food was not an option.

“My interest in starting a food bank comes from three places– personal experience, church, and college,” Foudray says. “While I was never homeless and I was lucky enough to never go without food, I grew up in a working class household that often struggled with money.”

In church, Mr. Foudray learned about treating others with kindness and helping those who need help. In college this message really set in as he learned about the poverty levels in the U.S. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, approximately 15.4 percent of people in Clark County live below the poverty line.

“As a student, it’s hard to concentrate on school work if you are hungry, or if you are worried about not having anything to eat when you get home,” Foudray says. “We want to let the students know the GRC Food Bank is here to help students and their families get access to the food they need.”

The food bank is designed with the goal of helping any student who needs food and cannot get it. Anytime a student is in need of food, whether it is just temporary or a regular need, students can reach out and get the food they need, with full confidentiality.

“The food bank at Campbell Junior High was nice enough to provide a donation to us here at GRC,” Foudray says. “We hope to fill our shelves with donations from the student body and the community by the end of 2017.”

According to Mr. Foudray, there will be at least two school-wide food drives for non-perishable donations. Students and staff may donate at anytime to Mr. Foudray, Mrs. Sosby or Mr. Lennon.

“We welcome all the help we can get,” Foudray says. “If anyone is interested in helping with this, then they can get in touch with me. Long term, I would love for this to become a regular service club here at GRC. Before I can get an official club up and running, I need to determine the demand and workload required for the food bank.”

Help: a tiny, four-letter word with the power to change society. Whether you need help or your looking to help, the GRC food bank is a project that will impact lives all over the community.