The need is urgent. There are hungry kids at OPRF — potentially close to 1,000 students experiencing food insecurity. Yet students have already helped create and test a solution.
Students Feeding Students (SFS), a student-led group at OPRF, developed a comprehensive plan to address food insecurity and successfully piloted snack cabinets this spring. The results were difficult to ignore: an estimated 40% of OPRF students used the cabinets, and they were empty by noon every day.
These students have done everything we ask young leaders to do. They identified a problem, researched it, engaged experts, developed and piloted a solution, collected data, responded to feedback, revised their proposal, and even pursued outside funding.
Now the adults need to do our part.
As executive director of YourPassion1st and co-chair of the Alliance for Black Youth, I believe our community should be clear about what we’re asking:
The District 200 administration should submit the Students Feeding Students proposal to the Board of Education with a recommendation to fully fund it for the 2026–27 academic year.
But this cannot end with snack cabinets.
We are also asking D200 to work collaboratively with SFS, students, families, and community partners to continue developing a comprehensive, sustainable approach to addressing food insecurity at OPRF. The current proposal already envisions expanding beyond snacks to fresh food and, ultimately, support for food-insecure families.
A student who is hungry should not have to wait for adults to finish debating whether the need exists.
The students have demonstrated the need. They have helped build the solution. The community is ready to support them.
Now we need D200 to act.
Chris Thomas
Executive director, YourPassion1st
Co-chair, Alliance for Black Youth